London,
14
April
2008
|
23:00
Europe/London

Heavy fine for hygiene offences in Bagel House

Mr Yohanan Cohen, director of Acestar Ventures Ltd, which trades as the Bagel House on Stoke Newington High Street was fined £6400 and ordered to pay £865 costs at Thames Magistrates Court on Friday 11 April 2008, for food hygiene and health and safety offences.

Mr Cohen pleaded guilty to seven food safety offences and one health and safety offence. Each offence received a fine of £800. The charges related primarily to dirty conditions in the Bagel House which is located at 2 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16 7PL.

The poor conditions were discovered during two visits by a Hackney Council Environmental Health officer in March last year. The basement lobby area ceiling was covered in black mould and the walk in refrigerator had an accumulation of dirt on the walls and ceiling.

As well as the business being found to be in an unclean and poorly maintained condition, the manager was not trained in food hygiene matters and there was a lack of hand washing facilities for staff. Ventilation and lighting was also poor.

Fiona Fletcher Smith, Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Regeneration at Hackney Council said: “Protecting public health is one of the council’s key priorities. It is vital that our environmental health officers carry out regular inspections to ensure food is being prepared in clean and safe conditions. Premises found to be failing basic hygiene and health and safety standards will be met with legal action.”

For further information on Food Safety, contact Hackney Council’s Environmental Health team on 0208 356 4911.