Luton Borough Council

19/06/2023 - Luton takeaway prosecuted for hygiene offences

Charges totalling £13,000 have been imposed on the Luton takeaway Gourmet Shack and its director, Mohammed Zillur Rahman Khan, for food hygiene offences.

In January 2022, a Luton Council Environmental Health Officer visited Gourmet Shack on 8 Chapel Street, Luton, to undertake a food hygiene inspection. The officer found poor food hygiene standards, consisting of poor cleanliness and storage practices, a lack of hot water and an infestation of cockroaches.

The business was immediately closed at the time using hygiene emergency prohibition powers. Hygiene Improvement Notices were served, requiring the business to improve ventilation and repair the floor. When the business was revisited to check compliance with these notices, the work had not been completed.

The business has since been re-inspected and received a food hygiene rating of 3.

Tadsan UK Ltd, trading as Gourmet Shack, was fined £6,400 and ordered to pay a £190 victim surcharge and costs of £1,500. Mr Khan was fined £3,600 as well as being ordered to pay a £190 victim surcharge and £1,500 in prosecution costs at Luton Crown Court on 26 May 2023.

Cllr Khtija Malik, portfolio holder for Public Health and Integration at Luton Council, said "We will not hesitate to take action where businesses fail to put the safety of the public first. Food business owners must take their responsibilities seriously and be directly involved to ensure the safety of members of the public. Where a food business is found to have pest activity, it faces emergency closure and prosecution.”

“All food businesses must have permanent, ongoing and adequate procedures to monitor and control pests. We strongly advise that a permanent pest control monitoring and treatment contract is in place with a reputable, professional and competent pest control company. Effective pest control also includes having good standards of cleanliness, maintenance of equipment and surfaces with a sufficient finish to walls, floors and ceilings.”

Food business operators should use reputable pest controllers registered with the British Pest Control Association or The National Pest Technical Association. Alternatively, businesses can obtain advice and guidance and use Luton Council’s pest control traded service by contacting 01582 546814 or emailing [email protected].

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