Trafford Catering fined after EHOs find poor hygiene practices

A Bexhill caterer has been fined almost £2,000 after a customer complaint led to a full investigation by environmental health officers.

Trafford Catering was inspected after a member of the public complained to Rother District Council about a sandwich bought from the firm, according to www.bexhillobserver.net.

Hastings magistrates heard that staff hadn't been given food hygiene training and officers noticed one employee using the same towel to wipe their hands and then wipe down the surface food was being prepared on.

Environmental health officers also found there was no soap or hand towels at the wash basins and food preparation surfaces were not disinfected during use. Frozen sausage meat was discovered defrosting on the lower shelf of a table and high risk food was not refrigerated.

A window behind the cooker was open and exposed to the gutter outside and a collapsed food cupboard had not been repaired.

Trafford Catering owner Nicholas Montague was given fines totalling £1,815 by magistrates.

Richard Parker Harding, head of environmental health for Rother District Council, said: "We cannot lower standards of hygiene and safety even in these difficult economic times. Our priority is the protection of public health. When complaints are made, we will investigate."

Trafford Catering had been inspected prior to the hearing and cleaning standards had improved, although some work was still needed.

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By Janie Stamford

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