Sandwich complaint leads to fine for caterer

Hastings magistrates heard how a member of the public complained to Rother District Council about a sandwich bought from Trafford Catering, in De La Warr Mews, Bexhill.

The council’s environmental health officers visited the business last November, to find food prepared in an area with dead flies, cobwebs, greasy walls and filthy floors.

The company, which makes sandwiches to sell to the public, hadn’t given staff food hygiene training and officers noticed one member of staff using the same towel to wipe their hands and then wipe down the surface food was being prepared on (pictured).

Environmental health officers also found there was no soap or hand towels at the wash basins and food preparation surfaces were not disinfected during use.

A window behind the cooker was open and exposed to the gutter outside, with its bird feathers and excreta.

A food cupboard collapsed and not been repaired and high risk food was not refrigerated. Officers also noted frozen sausage meat defrosting on the lower shelf of a table.

Nicholas Montague, the owner of Trafford Catering, was given fines totalling £1,815 by magistrates.

Trafford Catering had been inspected prior to the hearing and cleaning standards have improved, although some work is still needed.

Richard Parker Harding, Head of Environmental Health for Rother District Council, said: “We cannot lower standards of hygiene and safety even in these difficult economic times.

“Our priority is the protection of public health.

“When complaints are made, we will investigate.

“It is also important that the majority of food businesses that do comply with the law are not at an economic disadvantage to those that do not. ”