Former owners of Chinese restaurant fined over mouse infestation

Inspectors also found evidence of poor cleanliness at Mandarin Chinese in Linthorpe Road :: Business is now under new ownership

The owners of a Middlesbrough restaurant have been fined after an infestation of mice which put public health at risk.

Evidence of poor standards of cleanliness were discovered during a routine inspection of the Mandarin Chinese Restaurant in Linthorpe Road.

Environmental Health Officers from Middlesbrough Council’s Public Protection Service ordered the immediate closure of the premises to protect public health following their visit in January.

K&X Limited, which owned the Mandarin Restaurant at the time of the inspection, was charged under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 with failing to keep its food premises clean, failing to keep food equipment and fittings clean, failing to prevent pest activity and failing to register its ownership of the restaurant.

Appearing before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, the company pleaded guilty to all charges and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £460 towards the council’s costs, plus a £25 victim surcharge.

Environmental Health and Trading Standards Manager Judith Hedgley said: “Officers had to use their emergency powers to close this business to protect public health.

“The owners had failed to keep their premises clean and they were preparing food in unhygienic and unsafe conditions, well below the required standards.

“Environmental health officers work closely with food businesses to help them understand food law and how to maintain good and safe standards of hygiene.

“However, our first responsibility is to protect the health of people who eat out in Middlesbrough and appropriate enforcement action will always be taken where consumer safety is put at risk.”

The premises are now under new ownership.

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