The director of a city business has been fined after failing to comply with food hygiene regulations.
Chatha Fresh Food Limited, based in Cross Street, Bilston, had been trading under unhygienic conditions with evidence of mouse activity within part of the premises.
The business is a national supplier of ready-to-eat foods and City of Wolverhampton Council’s environmental health officers found an active mouse infestation during a routine inspection in April 2022.
The inspection found that food packaging and a walk-in chiller where food was being stored were contaminated with mice droppings. A live mouse was also caught in a trap within the same walk-in chiller.
Mandeep Singh, director of Chatha Fresh Food Limited, pleaded guilty to two breaches of The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 for failing to:
The court fined Mandeep Singh £667 and ordered him to pay full costs of £6638 and victim surcharge.
Councillor Craig Collingswood, cabinet member for environment and climate change at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Poor food hygiene can cause significant illnesses and this business owner has knowingly put his customers at risk.
“This shows a shocking lack of care and responsibility and I hope other businesses take note of the court’s judgement in this case.
“Our environmental health officers work very hard to protect residents and consumers and I hope this sends out a strong message to food businesses that we take food hygiene very seriously in Wolverhampton.”
