Council brings three food safety prosecutions

South Norfolk Council will be in magistrates courts next week bringing prosecutions against three owners or former owners of premises selling food.

The charges range from breaking food hygiene regulations to selling food beyond its use-by date.

The former proprietor of The Swan pub in Loddon and the proprietor of Poringland Post Office and Stores have been requested to appear before Norwich Magistrates on Monday.

On Tuesday, the proprietor of the Cock Inn at Barford has been requested to appear before Swaffam Magistrates.

Councillor David Bills, Cabinet Member for Environment, Health, Recycling and Safety said:

“These prosecutions are not the result of any special campaign. They follow patient, determined work by the unsung heroes of our environmental health team.

“The vast majority of our food establishments in South Norfolk have proper standards and serve their customers well. This should be taken as a warning to those who might fall below those standards.

"If our team inspects you and finds problems, they will first work with your business to put those right quickly. Failing that, we will not hesitate to prosecute on behalf of the public we serve.”

On Monday (12 May) at Norwich Magistrates Court, Stuart Jason Wilson - former proprietor of The Swan public house at 23 Church Plain, Loddon will face two charges: failing to keep food premises clean, and failing to follow proper procedures regarding stock rotation and post-cooking contamination.

Also at Norwich Magistrates Court on Monday is Abdul Basit, proprietor of Poringland Post Office Stores. He is facing one charge of selling food passed its use-by date.

On Tuesday (13 May) at Swaffham Magistrates Court, Peter James Turner of The Cock Inn, Watton Road, Barford faces five charges of failing to comply with the Food Hygiene Regulations relating to poor repair, walls and floors, insufficient temperature control procedures and insufficient wash hand basins.

In all three cases, no pleas have yet been entered, and the response of those charged is unknown. The cases will only be dealt with on the day if the offences are admitted.

South Norfolk Council works with food businesses – big and small – to ensure they have a documented food safety management system, which is fundamental to good food hygiene.

One of the recommended food safety management systems is known as “Safer Food, Better Business”. It covers what are known as the four Cs: cooking, cleaning, cross contamination and chilling.

Businesses have to provide evidence that they have these fundamentals in place and failure to do so can result in formal action.

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