Food inspectors have shut a takeaway for the second time in under a year after deeming it an “imminent risk of injury to health”.
Runcorn Kebab House on High Street was last closed down in November over an “unsafe and illegal gas installation” and “inadequate cleaning and handwashing facilities”, but was allowed to reopen after improvements. Eight months on and the fast food outlet has been shut again.
Environmental health officers from Halton Borough Council secured a Food Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order at North Cheshire Magistrates’ Court in Warrington on Friday. A Halton Council spokeswoman said this followed a routine inspection on July 5, which found a range of “serious food hygiene breaches”.
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These included, inadequate refrigeration facilities for high risk food, inadequate separation of raw and ready-to-eat food, high risk food stored uncovered at room temperature, "dirty" work surfaces and equipment, a food safety management system that was not being followed, poor stock rotation and out-of-date food, and no hygienic means to wash or dry hands.
Court papers showed further problems were reported such as "evidence to suggest some records were being falsified" and "poor decorative finishes which were shedding matter such as paint thus posing a contamination risk to food".
The latest court order means takeaway must remain closed until the risks to health have been removed.
The council spokeswoman said: “It is disappointing that the owners of this premises have not learned the lessons from the previous closure in November 2021 and that officers have again had to take emergency action to protect public health.
“Officers will now consider what further action is required to ensure long term compliance at the premises.”
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