Food safety standards in Preston are continuing to improve after the successful prosecution of the co-proprietors of Rajas Pizza Bar on Manchester Road, for failing to comply with general hygiene requirements.

Yasin Sohail pleaded guilty to five offences at Preston Crown Court yesterday and was ordered to pay over £1000 in fines and costs. The other co-proprietor pleaded guilty in the Preston Magistrates’ Court to the same offences some weeks ago and was sentenced to pay over £2,200.

Rajas Pizza Bar has improved since the original inspection in August 2008 when it was closed using emergency prohibition procedures. It has since cleaned up its act and has now been awarded 3 stars under the Preston FoodSafe hygiene rating scheme.

Simon Neighbour, Environmental Health Manager at Preston City Council said; “We continue to work hard with businesses to help them attain appropriate standards of hygiene. Any food business needing help or advice should contact us.

“Where standards fall, action will be taken to protect public health. If this means closing businesses for a period of time, or having to take action at the Magistrates or Crown Courts, then so be it.

“Over the past few years, Preston Food Businesses have generally improved steadily. It’s a shame that a reluctant few tarnish the efforts of the majority.”

Background Information

• Preston FoodSafe is Preston City Council’s rating system of restaurants and takeaways. Inspectors issue a number of stars out of five based on food hygiene, structural condition and overall attitude to complying with the law.
   
• The council’s website contains the results from all inspections at http://www.preston.gov.uk/foodsafe. Here you can find the most recent environmental health inspection results of restaurants and takeaways plus schools, butchers, etc, in Preston.
   
• Some of the observations made at the time of the inspection were dirty floors with accumulation of grease and food debris; fresh rat droppings on the stairs; carpets heavily caked in grease and with presence of live insects; pots of high risk products were kept at room temperature; equipment with which food came into contact was dirty; food waste was poorly managed and kept in open containers outside the premises; there was no soap available for food handlers to wash their hands; the member of staff present at the time of the inspection was observed undertaking some poor food handling practices with ready to eat items being handled after raw items had been handled and without adequate hand-washing procedures thus presenting a risk of cross contamination.
   

Date Published: 17/06/09