Mouse droppings found at takeaway

Jun 26 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Mouse droppings found at takeaway

COUNCIL food hygiene officers discovered a catalogue of filth when they inspected a Chinese takeaway near Perth.

One of the “most concerning” breaches of regulations related to mouse droppings found in the premises.

There was also an infestation of flies, along with dead insects, in the Mei Mei Kitchen, Main Street, Bridge of Earn, Perth Sheriff Court was told this week.

Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson said that a lot of the equipment was in “dire need of a good clean” when the premises were visited on August 25 last year.

Inspectors found a catalogue of failings relating to equipment which wasn’t kept clean and maintained in good repair and condition.

There were dirty fridges, freezers, floors, walls, plugs and sockets, and hand contact surfaces were also dirty.

Storage bins in the dry goods store were dirty and there was food debris and peeling tinfoil found on plates in a hot cabinet.

The flies had apparently got into the take-away because it was their habit to keep a window open.

There was an electric trap which would kill flies if they came into contact with it but the tray beneath it was full of dead insects and hadn’t been emptied.

The proprietor of the business, 61-year-old Kwan Fong admitted four breaches of the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations.

Not guilty pleas were accepted to several other charges.

Solicitor David Holmes said that things had “gone wrong” when Mrs Fong started to spend too much time in relation to another venture.

“Two members of staff had also walked out at the same time, leaving a significant shortage.”

She had been liaising with the council licensing department and several further inspection visits had taken place, the most recent on May 25.

“She is at pains to point out that things have been rectified,” he added. “She is well aware this hasn’t been good publicity.”

Sheriff William Gilchrist imposed fines totalling £460, payable at the rate of £50 a month.