Legal News

Salford Council has prosecuted the owner of a local takeaway, found to have a mouse infestation that was a risk to public health.

Environmental health officers were called to Central takeaway on Cromwell Road in Salford, after a customer complained they had seen a rat running across the counter.

Inspectors found large numbers of mouse droppings around the premises, including on a chopping board and in open sacks of flour, along with filthy kitchen equipment.

Conditions were so poor that officers asked staff to close the premises immediately, which they did.

Takeaway owner Shahzad Akthar was found guilty of four offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court.

He was fined £1,080 and ordered to pay costs of £1,627 and a victim surcharge or £100.

The court heard that officers visited the shop on 5 November 2015, after receiving the complaint about a rat seen on the premises. They found a “clear and active” mouse infestation, with significant amounts of droppings throughout the premises – made worse by large amounts of food on the floor and holes and gaps in walls and doors, giving the mice access to food rooms.

The council said it was clear that the premises had not been deep cleaned for some time, as there was food waste on work surfaces and equipment, grease and old food stuck to shelves near the kebab machine and smeared on the inside of fridges and the ice cream server. Equipment was so dirty there was scum on the surface of the liquid.

Raw chicken had also been washed in a dirty sink and then dipped in dirty water – and blood and food waste, including old pizza dough, was left lying around. A raw meat chopping board was also left on top of the salad chopping board – and both were kept behind the sink in a pool of filthy water.

Staff said they used a shower-cleaning product to clean work surfaces and were unable to demonstrate that they knew about safe temperatures of food.

Councillor David Lancaster – lead member for environment and community safety – said:

“We’ve seen cases elsewhere in the country where poor food hygiene has led to people dying – it’s not something to cut corners on and ignore. The person who reported this takeaway absolutely did the right thing.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Food Poisoning Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those who have fallen ill with food poisoning caused by negligence – including on package holidays – on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation.

Food poisoning claims have to be made within three years of illness or diagnosis of illness – children can claim compensation for food poisoning up to the age of 21, including claims involving:

• Amoebic dysentery


• Campylobacter


• E.coli


• Leptospirosis


• Listeria


• Salmonella


• Shigella.