Environmental Health Officers visited Walsall Catering on 28 November last year and discovered rodent faeces on the floor and around food storage areas, along with chew marks on paper towels, Dudley Magistrates’ Court heard. The business was preparing to cater an event for 300 people at the time.
Officers deemed the conditions an imminent risk to public health and issued a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice, forcing the Green Lane-based business to stop operations immediately.
During the hearing on 12 November, Ramzan Raza, 30, of Cairns Street, Walsall, representing the business, which specialises in Asian cuisine for weddings and celebrations, pleaded guilty to two offences: failing to have adequate procedures to control pests and failing to maintain a clean premises.
Raza was ordered to pay:
- A £1,760 fine
- A £704 victim surcharge
- £3,028 in costs
Following the court hearing, Councillor Adam Hicken, Walsall Council’s portfolio holder for enforcement and safe communities, said:
“Those planning weddings and other celebrations with family and friends should be able to book caterers knowing their safety is a priority. A food poisoning outbreak would be devastating. I would encourage anyone eating out, ordering takeaways, or booking caterers to check the Food Hygiene Ratings Scheme and ensure businesses are taking their legal responsibilities seriously.”
Walsall Catering reopened within two weeks of the notice after demonstrating to Environmental Health officers that the appropriate hygiene and safety measures had been implemented.
