The director of a company which supplied school meals has been disqualified for four years, after an inspection of company premises revealed serious breaches of food hygiene regulations.
Food 4 Thought GB Limited was incorporated on 21 February 2008 and traded from the Broad Street Business Centre, 10 Broad Street in Spalding, Lincolnshire.
Moira Anne Clark was appointed as a director between 22 February 2012 and 04 November 2014, the date of liquidation.
Boston Borough Council’s Environmental Health Department carried out an inspection of the company’s kitchen premises on 4 October 2013 – and found 12 breaches of European Food Regulations, including the storage of raw meat on top of cooked meat, dirty equipment and utensils, and mouldy drinking cups.
The council found that Food 4 Thought GB Limited had failed to comply with Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, which is contrary to Regulation 17 (1) of the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006, made under Section 2 (2) of the European Communities Act 1972.
As a result of the breaches, Boston Borough Council prosecuted the company.
At a hearing on 24 March 2014, Mrs Clark pleaded guilty to the breaches – the company was fined £13,800, with £4,300 in costs.
Adverse publicity resulting from the trial meant that the company subsequently lost most of its customers – and entered liquidation on 4 November 2014, owing £209,982 to creditors.
The Insolvency Service launched an investigation and on 15 July 2016, the Secretary of State accepted a disqualification undertaking from Mrs Clark, effective for four years from 5 August 2016.
Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, Sue Macleod, said:
“Moira Clark was responsible for breaches of food safety regulations, which put the health of school children at risk.
“Disqualification will help to ensure that there is not a repeat occurrence of this serious failing and will act as a warning to others.”
Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Lawyers – No win no fee Food Poisoning Claims
Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise on how to make a claim for food poisoning caused by poor food preparation or hygiene breaches under health and safety regulations.
Food poisoning claims have to be made within three years of the start of illness or diagnosis of illness – children can make food poisoning claims up to the age of 21, including claims involving:
• Amoebic dysentery
• Campylobacter
• E.coli
• Gastroenteritis
• Giardiasis
• Listeria
• Salmonella
• Shigella.
For expert legal advice on no win no fee Food Poisoning Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.