Local Council Reveals Results Of Inspection Drive

Walsall Council has confirmed that seven food outlets have been closed in the town across the past 12 months due to concerns regarding health risks to the general public.

The Walsall Advertiser reports that 1,000 premises were inspected between 27 October 2013 and 27 October 2014, and while 80 per cent were deemed satisfactory or better, seven were closed due to concerns that they posed an immediate health risk. One of these outlets closed voluntarily without the Council having to take enforcement action.

Among those was Family Choice convenience store in Blakenall, where mouse droppings and gnawed food were discovered upon inspection of the premises.

News of the problems has emerged after the local newspaper also revealed that four outlets were closed in October 2014 alone due to similar concerns, with nearly 150 sites also failing inspections across this calendar year.

David Elrington, area manager of Public Health at Walsall Council, told the newspaper: “Premises that have been closed are not legally able to reopen without the environmental health officers consent and we wouldn’t allow the premises to re-open unless the circumstances that led to the closure had been rectified to our satisfaction.”

Expert Opinion

It is concerning to read these reports that some food outlets in Walsall have been failing to meet their responsibilities when it comes to the basic requirements of food hygiene and safety. <br/> <br/>"Through our work helping victims of illness outbreaks in the UK and abroad, we have seen in many cases how people have suffered both severe short and long-term health problems as a result of food retailers failing to meet the requisite food hygiene standards. <br/> <br/>"As a result, it is vital that the local Council continues to work to ensure that food outlets are operating to the necessary standards and that they are doing everything they can to ensure consumers are kept safe from harm." Amandeep Dhillon - Partner