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Northampton takeaway fined £22,000 for hygiene breaches

Food businesses

28 September 2022

Uncleanable chopping boards being stored on the floor of the filthy food premises
Uncleanable chopping boards being stored on the floor of the filthy food premises

A Northampton takeaway has been fined £22,000 for deplorable hygiene breaches following the prosecution by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).

At Wellingborough Magistrates Court yesterday, Tuesday, 27 September, the food business operator of Honey Moon Chinese takeaway, Harborough Road in Kingsthorpe, pleaded guilty to four charges of breaching food safety and hygiene regulations.

The prosecution follows a routine inspection carried out on 30 September 2021 when WNC Officers found that the kitchen was not kept clean, equipment in contact with food was in a filthy condition, food was not being stored safely, and some food appeared to have been gnawed by pests.

The Food Business Operator, Apple Tree Leisure Limited, was charged with four counts of breaching the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.

The company received a total fine of £22,000 and was ordered to pay full costs of £2,400 and a victim surcharge of £190.

"I welcome the decision made by the Wellingborough Magistrates Court. We take these kinds of offences extremely seriously.

"Food business operators have a legal responsibility to provide safe food and maintain hygiene standards; those who do not must be held accountable for their actions.

"This prosecution by the Council sends out a clear message to the food industry that non-compliance will not be tolerated."
Cllr David Smith, WNC’s Cabinet Member for community safety and engagement and regulatory services.

The food hygiene rating reflects the standards of food hygiene found on the date of the inspection by the local authority. To check the rating for any food business, visit the Food Standards Agency website.

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