The owner of the butcher’s shop in Liverpool was recently fined after pleading guilty to seven food safety offences.
Ali Hacim Abdullah, who owns Al Baraka butcher’s shop and convenience store, was fined more than £4500, which included a £170 victim surcharge.
In 2015 Environmental Health Officers from Liverpool County Council carried out an unannounced inspection and discovered the health breaches.
According to the council, the premises were unclean and equipment used in the butchery and retail area was dirty.
Gap holes in the shop’s structure allowed access points for rodents and pests – in fact mice were already active in the butchery where uncovered foods were prepared, posing a risk of contamination.
There also appeared to be no procedures in place to control these pests and droppings were found throughout the premises.
Damaged flooring and wall tiles also meant that effective cleaning could not take place.
These findings resulted in the shop being closed.
According to the council, the shop had already been inspected five months prior this inspection, and the owner was given clear guidance and a lists of actions that needed to be implemented.
Despite this, on second inspection, no improvements had been made.
Councillor Steve Munby, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “This case sends out a strong message that substandard hygiene in any food outlet across the city will not be tolerated, and our experienced team of environmental health officers are prepared to prosecute any business who puts their customers at risk.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
