Local Authority Takes Action After Host Of Problems Are Identified

Hart District Council’s decision to both fine and suspend a farm shop from trading after a range of food hygiene failings were discovered has been welcomed by legal experts who specialise in supporting those affected by illness outbreaks.

Farm Catering Ltd in Heckfield, which trades as Holdshott Farm Shop, was fined over £37,000 and prohibited from operating as a food business following a series of concerns related to its practices across April 2015 and March 2016.

Among the issues identified was a failure to protect food from contamination that would make it unfit for human consumption, selling chicken pieces containing fly eggs and selling pies which had been kept above refrigeration requirements.

Hart District Council’s Head of Regulatory Services described standards at the side as among the worst that his officers have seen, with the director and manager of the business pleading guilty to eight food hygiene offences.

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist Public Health team, which specialises in helping those affected by illness outbreaks related to food hygiene issues, have welcomed the prosecution and called on all similar businesses to ensure that safety is always a fundamental priority.

Amandeep Dhillon, a Partner in the team who has vast experience helping illness victims to gain answers and justice regarding their problems, said:

Expert Opinion

“When the public visits shops like this one, they put great faith in the idea that the products they are buying have been stored correctly and are fit for consumption.

“With this in mind, it is disturbing to see the issues which have been identified in this case and it is absolutely vital that all businesses involved in the handling of food ensure that the meet regulatory requirements.

“This is an incredibly serious issue, as we have seen on a number of occasions how problems of this nature can leave people were serious illnesses and even long-term health issues from which they never fully recover.

“A case of this nature must serve as an example and lessons must be learned from it.” Amandeep Dhillon - Partner