The operator of a Belfast imported food warehouse has been fined £5000 after environmental officers found food contaminated with rodent faeces.
The prosecution was taken by Belfast City Council against Shah Jalal Belfast Limited, an ethnic and halal food trader based at Balmoral Link, during Tuesday’s Belfast Magistrates’ Court.
During a routine inspection of their premises at Balmoral Link on March 12, 2019, environmental health and pest control officers discovered food contaminated with rodent faeces, food inappropriately stored contamination from pests, and a general lack of pest control measures. Rats were also discovered in rodent traps in the food storage.
The food business operator agreed to voluntarily close the premises on a week later until the pest issue was resolved. The premises was given a rating of 0 under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, meaning "urgent improvement necessary."
The premises re-opened a week after when officers were satisfied sufficient measures had been taken to remove the imminent risk to public health.
Shah Jalal has since been awarded a Food Hygiene Rating of 1 by the council on March 12th last year - this rates food hygiene and safety as “poor,” structural compliance as “poor,” and confidence in management as “little.”
