Press Releases
Noodle bar hit with £10,000 fine for dirty, rat-gnawed premises (PR 967)
A popular Ealing noodle bar has been fined £10,000 after being
prosecuted by Ealing Council for serious hygiene offences, greasy
kitchen conditions and a rat infestation uncovered last year.
In Acton Magistrates Court last week (12 April), the owners
of Coco Noodle Bar, 70 The Mall, Ealing, pleaded guilty to five
charges, including failing to keep their premises clean and control
pests.
Owner Andrew Ly was ordered to pay £2,000 for each offence and the Council’s court costs of £1,406.51 – totalling £11,406.51.
The charges related to a full hygiene inspection by Council Environmental Health Officer Margaret Goodwin on 13 September 2006. At the time, Mrs Goodwin advised immediate closure after finding an active infestation of rats and filthy kitchen conditions that posed an imminent health risk to customers.
The inspection also found:
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Rat droppings beneath the refrigerator and steamer
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Rat gnawed woodwork and nesting materials in a rear store area
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Heavy deposits of grease underneath the deep fat fryer, cooking range and steamer
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Grease stained ceilings and walls
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Uncovered bowls of food stacked on top of each other in the refrigerator
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Damaged and broken wall tiles.
The restaurant was voluntarily closed for cleaning and vermin control for two and a half days.
Councillor Will Brooks, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “This case makes me sick to the stomach and reinforces the importance of the hard work being done by council officers to protect the health and safety of residents and visitors.
“Food was being prepared in an environment fit only for rats,
and the owners of this popular eatery obviously had little regard
for the health of their customers.
“Our prosecution action and inspections followed serious
allegations from customers, of food poisoning, staff not washing
their hands after visiting the toilet and even a fingernail in a
meal.
“Ealing Broadway prides itself on offering a wide range of
quality dining experiences and I’m pleased that our action has
resulted in this noodle bar cleaning up its act.
“We are committed to stamping out filthy food practices and
improving public health and safety and will continue to pay
unannounced visits to food establishments across the borough to
make sure they are serving up the quality food that Ealing
residents and visitors deserve.”
Coco Noodle Bar has since implemented major improvements including cleaning procedures. Rats have been removed from the site and the Council continues to monitor the business.
Environmental health action supports the Council’s priority of making Ealing’s communities safer. The Council’s other two priorities are cleaner streets and providing value for money services.
Ealing Council prosecuted Coco Noodle Bar for five offences under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006. They are:
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Failing to put in place, implement and maintain a permanent procedure or procedures based on the HACCP principles
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Failing to keep food premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition
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Failing to ensure adequate procedures were in place to control pests
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Failing to ensure that food handlers were supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters which are commensurate with their work activity
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Failing to keep temperature records based on HACCP principles.