Hampden failed on food hygiene

SCOTLAND’S national football stadium has been criticised by food hygiene inspectors over the state of its kitchens.

Acatalogue of food safety breaches were discovered at Hampden’s hospitality suites, which host VIP clients and weddings.

These included dirty, crumbling work surfaces, out-of-date food and staff who did not know they had to wash their hands.

A head chef with no food hygiene training was employed, bins were left uncovered and shoes and trainers were left lying in food preparation areas.

The report of the failed inspection also revealed kitchen staff risked poisoning customers by storing both raw and ready-to-eat meals in the same vacuumpackaging machine.

Hampden’s facilities are popular with corporate clients during Scotland internationals and rock concerts by artists like Paul Mccartney and Take That, with hospitality packages costing up to £2850. The kitchens are run by Prestige Scotland, part of the Sodexo catering group.

The inspection by officers from Glasgow City Council was carried out late last year but has only now been made public.

The stadium failed to meet food hygiene standards and was issued with an “improvement required” certificate.

A Sodexo spokesman: “Sodexo has robust safety procedures for food safety and works closely with environmental health officers to maintain the highest of standards of hygiene and safety. The inspection was carried out on October 25 and by November 16 a pass certificate was issued.”

Peter Dallas, the managing director of Hampden Park, said: “We are satisfied with the immediate action taken by Sodexo back in October to receive a pass certificate and to ensure Sodexo’s hygiene and safety procedures were reinforced to all employees.”