Eateries rapped over laced meat, nuts and rats
A BUTCHER that sold ‘lamb’ mince laced with beef and pork, and two eateries that flogged ‘nut free’ dishes containing nuts have been rapped by food hygiene inspectors.
Council bosses in Oldham took legal action against a takeaway, a restaurant and a market hall trader after they were caught serving ‘potentially dangerous’ meals – or food that was not as described to customers.
Another takeaway was fined after inspectors discovered a rodent infestation.
Experts discovered traces of peanut protein in a ‘nut free’ thai chicken noodle dish served at Siam Orchid in Royton, which has now closed.
The meal was sent off for lab tests after inspectors visited the Middleton Road eatery on April 19.
Results revealed 14 mg per kg of peanut protein in the dish. Food hygiene bosses said the dish could have posed a ‘serious health risk’ to a customer with a nut allergy.
An earlier inspection, on January 25, uncovered an ‘uncontrolled’ rat infestation at Siam Orchid as well as ‘poor’ cleaning methods. The business, run by Siam Middleton Ltd, was fined £1,900, with a victim surcharge of £90 and costs of £1,650, at Tameside magistrates’ court.
Owners admitted four offences under The Food Safety Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, Regulation 19 and two offences under The Food Safety Act 1990.
The business has now shut and the unit is under new ownership.
Bosses at Ashton Road takeaway Shalimar were hauled before the courts after tests revealed a ‘nut free’ chicken tikka masala dish contained 20mg per kg of peanut protein.
Former owner Mohammed Amzud Ali Salik, 54, of Werneth Hall Road, Oldham, was fined £175, with a £30 victim surcharge and costs of £975, after pleading guilty to an offence under the Food Safety Act.
In another case, a butchers trading as Totties Market Hall, Oldham, was caught serving up beef and pork in minced lamb.
A sample of the ‘lamb,’ bought on April 19 last year, had 20pc cow DNA and 5pc pig DNA. Totties was fined £700 with a £70 victim surcharge and ordered to pay costs of £1,045 costs after bosses admitted falsely describing or presenting food. In a fourth case, Godfather Fried Chicken and Pizza on Union Street, was fined after inspectors found evidence of a rodent infestation. The owners were fined £2,800 with a victim surcharge of £140 and costs of £1,375 after admitting 11 offences under The Food Safety Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, Regulation 19. Oldham council’s neighbourhoods boss, Barbara Brownridge, said: “We are committed to dealing with serious lapses in food hygiene, especially where the safety of residents is put at risk. “We will not hesitate to take action. “Business owners who run food establishments must comply with food hygiene laws – or be prepared to face the consequences.” Barbara Brownridge, council neighbourhood boss