A rodent infested food and grocers shop in Earlsfield has been fined £16,000 after inspectors discovered filthy food preparation surfaces covered in mouse droppings and urine last year.
Wandsworth Council inspectors judged the shop, in Garratt Lane, an immediate risk to public health and ordered the owner to close the shop when they found an infestation of pharoah ants and mice.
Cllr Jonathan Cook said: “It is difficult to think of anywhere more unsuitable to stock and sell food.”
Large amounts of stock had been gnawed at and shelves and storage areas containing nuts, herbs, spices and pulses were covered in droppings, including the butcher section of the shop where fresh meat was stored and prepared.
The store was forced to close in August 2015 and opened ten days later after pest controllers and cleaners addressed the problem.
The owner of Punjab Superstore Ltd pleaded guilty to four food safety and hygiene offences, was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay £2,525 towards the council’s costs.
Anyone with concerns about hygiene and/or food safety issues at a shop or restaurant in Wandsworth should email foodsafety@wandsworth.gov.uk.
For more information and to see the ratings achieved by food businesses in the borough visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/foodsafety
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