RESTAURANT BOSS FINED FOR HYGIENE OFFENCES
The former owner of an Aberystwyth restaurant has been fined and barred from operating food businesses following a series of food hygiene offences.
A complaint against The Spice of Bengal, on Portland Road in Aberystwyth, was made in August 2013. Ceredigion County Council's Lifestyle Services team investigated and found a rodent infestation, poor standards of cleaning and unfit food.
Officers found fresh rodent ｄroppings, dirty cleaning cloths used on food preparation surfaces and pest-infested raw ingredients. Mouldy food, up to 37 days beyond its use-by date, was stored in the fridges and there was a "very poor standards of cleaning" at the premises.
Irashadur Rahman, who now resides in Romford, Greater London, managed the restaurant at the time.
Rahman failed to attend the original hearing at Aberystwyth Magistrates' in 2013 and was made subject to an arrest warrant as a result.
He was arrested in London in June 2016 and bailed upon the condition that he attended a hearing at Aberystwyth Justice Centre on 25 July 2016. Magistrates fined him ٟ,000, and he was ordered to pay costs of ٟ,500, as well as pay a victim surcharge of 㾻.
An application from Ceredigion County Council to issue an order prohibiting Rahman from managing or operating any other food business was also granted.
Councillor Rhodri Evans, cabinet member for lifestyle services, said: "The food safety team works hard with local businesses to meet and maintain legal food hygiene standards. This is reflected in the very good Food Hygiene Ratings shown on the doors of the majority of food businesses in Ceredigion.
"However, on rare occasions the council must refer serious cases of hygiene failures such as this, for prosecution to protect public health and the reputation of our excellent hospitality industry who work hard to maintain standards."
Vocabulary Words:
1. Barred - (verb) prevent or forbid the entrance or movement of.
2. Rodent - (noun) a gnawing mammal of an order that includes rats, mice, squirrels, hamsters, porcupines, and their relatives, distinguished by strong constantly growing incisors and no canine teeth. They constitute the largest order of mammals.
3. Infestation - (noun) the state of being invaded or overrun by pests or parasites
4. Premises - (noun) A house or building, together with its land and outbuildings, occupied by a business or considered in an official context
5. Reputation - (noun) The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you worry about food safety?
2. Why is food preparation hygiene important?
3. Do you think being "fined" is enough punishment for an unsafe and unhygienic establishment? Why do you think so?
4. How can hotel or establishment owners ensure hygenic practices?
5. What hygienic measures are practised at Kangwon Land?
