Steakhouse fined £50,000 for unhygienic wooden plates

 Wooden “plates” used by restaurants pose a food poisoning risk, a council has warned, after a steakhouse was fined £50,000 due to 14 diners having fallen ill.

Birmingham City Council brought the case against Ibrahim’s Grill and Steak House because it kept using the boards to serve food.

In October 2016, inspectors visited the premises in Acocks Green after food poisoning affected a party of 14. Issues of concern included a high level of reliance being placed on the use of disposable gloves rather than staff washing hands, poor cleaning of the premises and the use of wooden “plates” which are incapable of being cleaned.

Returning two months later, they found wooden plates still being used.

The company admitted failing to comply with a hygiene notice and was fined £50,000 by the city’s magistrates’ court.

The council tweeted: “Wooden plates could pose a risk of food poisoning.”