Owner Fined After Routine Inspection Raises Number Of Concerns

The prosecution of a food business in Bromley for a range of safety failings must serve as an important reminder to all companies across the UK on the importance of maintaining proper levels of hygiene, according to specialist lawyers.

The owner of Gary’s Snacks in Beckenham, Gary Johnston, was fined and ordered to pay a total of £7,530 after pleading guilty to 15 charges under Food Safety & Hygiene Regulations, following an inspection in June 2016.

Food safety officers from the London Borough of Bromley visited the business for a routine inspection but were prevented from doing so by Mr Johnston, but they returned to undertake the checks after obtaining a warrant.

During the inspection, they discovered a range of issues including that the catering unit and van used for food transport were not in good condition and were not able to protect food from contamination. In addition, there was no hot water supply for washing hands and fridges and freezers were poorly maintained.

It was also discovered that Mr Johnston had not attended a food hygiene training course since 2003 and had not registered his business with the council despite trading for seven years.

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist Public Health lawyers have vast experience providing legal advice and support to those affected by illness outbreaks caused by a range of issues including food hygiene failings.

Reacting to this case, Amandeep Dhillon, a Partner and specialist in Public Health at Irwin Mitchell, said:

Expert Opinion

“Very serious concerns have been raised by this case and it is welcome to see the local authority involved taking action to promote the importance of food safety.

“We have seen numerous cases in which people have developed severe short-term symptoms as a result of food safety failings which should have been avoided, with such illnesses often then developing into longer-term health issues.

“A case of this nature must serve as a vital reminder that all food businesses have a major responsibility to both ensure that hygiene regulations are followed properly and that the safety of customers and patrons is always their top priority. The problems highlighted in this case must never be seen again.” Amandeep Dhillon - Partner