London sandwich bar fined after cockroach found in cup of tea

The owner of a London sandwich bar has been fined £15,500 and ordered to pay costs in excess of £3,000 after safety officers found a cockroach in their cup of tea.

Daljit Singh Randhawa, the owner of Pavarotti's Sandwich Bar on the Royal Exchange, pleaded guilty on 7 September to two Food Safety offences in the City of London Magistrates' Court following the incident.

City of London Corporation environmental health officers visited the sandwich bar in the Royal Exchange in October 2010 following a complaint and found an extensive cockroach infestation and rat activity.

As a result, the premises were closed using Hygiene Emergency Prohibition powers contained in the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations.

Philip Everett, director of environmental services, said: "The law expects food business operators to be proactive in dealing with both on-going pest problems and pest-proofing their premises to prevent further infestations. It is simply not acceptable, particularly as London heads into Olympic year, for businesses to shirk their responsibilities and endanger public health".

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By Neil Gerrard

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