Legal News

Swindon Borough Council has shut down a local business – which claimed to supply around 1,000 samosas a day to shops and other businesses – because it posed an immediate threat to public health.

The council applied for a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order on the food business Pritam’s – based at 103 Cricklade Road in Gorse Hill, Swindon –
after an inspection by council food safety inspectors found food on the premises that was mouldy.

They also found dirty food preparation and storage conditions – and inspectors told magistrates that there was “clear evidence” of a mice infestation on the premises.

Magistrates also granted the council permission to destroy any food found on the premises.

Council officers Saima Khan and Carolyn Clinton spent 25 minutes knocking at the doors of the premises before they were given access – inside Pritam’s, they found fridges full of mouldy food, including vegetables, meat curry, gravy, basmati rice and dough.

They also found that cooked food was cooled using fans encrusted with dust.

The inspectors also saw that a WC opened directly onto the food preparation area – and managers had not put in place procedures to prevent cross-contamination between raw meat and cooked foods.

A man questioned on the premises said he was helping out because the owner was ill – he was found to have no food preparation training.

After the hearing, Swindon Councils Environmental Services Manager, Paul Simmonds, said:

“The vast majority of food businesses we inspect are doing a good job –
but occasionally we come across a business where conditions are so filthy and unhygienic that we have to close them down immediately.

“This is one of the worst examples we have found – and we will now consider if it is appropriate to take further legal action against those responsible.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge for consumer protection offences, including breaches of health and safety laws, breaches of food safety laws, mis-labelling offences, counterfeit goods and weights and measures offences.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence solicitor can attend interviews with regulatory authorities or can advise before charges are brought.

For expert legal advice on consumer protection offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 722 0409.