Health inspectors shut down Lebanese restaurant in Oxford

A well-established restaurant in Oxford has been shut down by health inspectors after they found widespread cross-contamination between open raw meats and ready-to-eat food.

Inspectors issued an emergency prohibition notice for the Al-Shami Lebanese restaurant in Jericho, Oxford, which must now remain closed until they are satisfied that any risks to health have been rectified, according to the Oxford Mail.

Raw meat was found next to cooked chicken, yoghurt, cheese and salad at the restaurant, which has featured in the Good Food Guide for the past 20 years.

But Mimo Mahfouz, who has owned Al-Shami for the past 20 years,  told the local paper that the timing of the inspectors' visit was unfortunate because the restaurant had received a big delivery of meat from London just an hour before the inspectors arrived, and there had not been enough time to pack it away because of staff shortages.

Mahfouz estimated that the closure of his 100-cover restaurant will cost him £15,000.

Mahfouz said: “I agree it was an absolute disaster at the time. If they had come the day before or the day after it wouldn’t have happened. Quite rightly they had to close us down but for me it’s absolutely amazing. I couldn’t believe it happened. I thought Candid Camera was on. We never had problems like this before in 22 years.

The restaurant should re-open this week after a re-inspection by officers.

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By Neil Gerrard

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