RAT DROPPINGS FOUND INSIDE CHINESE TAKEAWAY:
FILTH and mouse and rat droppings were all found inside a Chinese takeaway.
A live mouse was also seen running around a food storage room at the Golden Cow takeaway on Broadway in Splott, Cardiff, during an inspection.
Council officers inspected the takeaway in May last year after a complaint from a member of the public.
The business voluntarily closed its doors for a deep clean and pest control treatment was carried out and the takeaway reopened soon after.
A follow-up inspection was then carried out in November 2018 and some of the food hygiene breaches reoccurred.
During that inspection a live mouse was spotted by an officer running around in an outside food storage room.
The business was scored a food hygiene rating of 0 and the business voluntarily agreed to close again.
It remained closed until the business was thoroughly cleaned, the rodent infestation was eradicated and required structural work was carried out.
The sole director Lin Yun Zheng pleaded guilty to eight charges relating to food hygiene offences at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court.
In mitigation, the defence solicitor told the court that prior to the visit in May 2018, Zheng, of Broadway, Cardiff, had only recently cancelled the employment of a pest control company as it appeared to not be doing its job properly.
The court was told issues arose because Zheng was trying to run the business and look after three children.
Cardiff council cabinet member Michael Michael said: “When people order takeaway food, they expect the food to be prepared and cooked in a safe environment.
“Often these days people don’t even see the food business that they are buying from, as the food is delivered to the customers’ door.
“This is why the regulation of food businesses is so important and the reason why it is in the public interest to publicise any failings which do occur.
“The conditions that were found at the Golden Cow takeaway were far from satisfactory.
“In fact, in court, the culpability of the offence was deemed as ‘high’ and the risk level was categorised as ‘Category one.’
“In simple terms, this means the level of risk of harm to the customer was deemed to be in one of the highest categories.”
Zheng, 33, was fined a total of £1,500 and was also ordered to pay costs of £340 and a victim surcharge of £150.
Her husband now runs the takeaway business through a different company name, Golden Cow Ltd, and it has a food hygiene rating of two.