29/11/2023 - Food takeaway businesses prosecuted for rat activity

Lucky House Halal Chinese Ltd received a financial penalty of £1,000 for May 2022 offences, and £1,000 for November 2022 offences. Mohammed Iqbal, Director, received a financial penalty of £200 for May 2022 offences, and £200 for November 2022 offences. Lucky House Luton Ltd received a financial penalty of £1,000 for November 2022 offences. Ansar Javed, Director, received a financial penalty of £400 for November 2022 offences. Failure to pay the fines within timescales will result in the directors both facing imprisonment.

During a routine food hygiene inspection in May 2022, Environmental Health Officers found cleaning and hygiene to be very poor, with extensive rat droppings found throughout the premises. A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice was served on both businesses, as evidence suggested that they were selling food and operating from the premises.

Multiple revisits were performed at the premises and they were finally allowed to be reopened on 27 July 2022. However, a further routine food hygiene inspection was carried out on the 10 November 2022 which led to a second Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice being served on Lucky House Luton Ltd. Whilst the companies had engaged a pest control company prior to the May 2022 visit, structural work had not been carried out to prevent rodent access, and cleaning standards were poor. Pest control revisits had not been carried out by the company the businesses were using and records were not available.

After the second emergency closure, the Environmental Health Officer had to engage the assistance of Luton Council’s Traded Pest Control Service to carry out an in depth inspection to identify the root cause of persistent rodent access to the premises, that had not been identified and fully rectified by food business operator and the pest control company used by the food business.

Councillor Khtija Malik, portfolio holder for Public Health at Luton Council says, "All food business operators must carry out regular checks for signs of pest activity, and ensure the pest control companies they pay for are reputable, and ideally, members of the British Pest Control Association or The National Pest Technical Association.

"It is not advisable for food businesses to try and treat pests themselves. Cleaning and structural repairs are an essential part of pest control. The closure of this business on two separate occasions, as well as having to go to court and pay for legal advice, and face fines is a costly reminder that prevention is better than cure. Having a good, reputable pest control company, is invaluable to a food business, its reputation, and success. Public health must be put before profit."

Lucky House is currently not operating.

Businesses can get advice and guidance and use the council’s own pest control traded service by contacting 01582 546814 or emailing [email protected].

Customers can view the food ratings of local establishments at ratings.food.gov.uk.