Wooden plates risked serious food poisoning Restaurant fined £50,000 after it ignored official warnings
ARESTAURANT which repeatedly used unhygienic wooden plates to serve food despite a warning has been fined £50,000.
Ibrahim’s Grill and Steak House Ltd, on Warwick Road in Acocks Green, was first visited by environmental health officers in October 2016 after an alleged food poisoning outbreak affecting a party of 14.
Birmingham City Council said there were concerns about the use of wooden plates that were incapable of being cleaned, but which were used to serve food.
The council said that despite serving improvement notices, the restaurant continued to use the boards, which “could pose a risk of food poisoning to anyone eating from them”.
The plates “were in such a damaged condition that they could no longer effectively be cleaned and disinfected, and presented a risk of contamination to food”.
During the first inspection there were a number of other issues highlighted, including a high-level reliance being placed on the use of disposable gloves, rather than the washing of hands.
The cleaning of the premises was poor and sanitising chemicals were not being used in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, Birmingham City Council said.
Officers served improvement notices requiring a remedy to the issues. On a return visit in December 2016 it was found that whilst food handling had improved, the wooden plates were still being used.
The firm entered a guilty plea at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court after failing to comply with a hygiene improvement notice. It was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £670 costs and £120 victim surcharge.
Mark Croxford, head of environ- mental health at the city council, said “It is completely unacceptable for businesses to put the health of people eating at their restaurants at risk.
“The owners were given sound advice which they chose to ignore.
“I am pleased magistrates supported our efforts with a large fine and hope advice we give on improving businesses to protect health will not be ignored in future.”