Magistrates have ordered a food business – and its owner – to hand over more than £8,700 after they operated illegally despite Oldham Council telling it to close.
Boola Halal Limited, now trading as Singlemorn UK Limited, which supplies whole and cut chickens to other food businesses, including restaurants and takeaways, were was also operating from facilities that potentially put consumers at risk.
On 4 February last year Oldham Council Environmental Health Officers discovered a chicken cutting plant at Unit 1 Thornton House, Crossbank Street, Oldham that was operating without permission.
All businesses of this kind must have approval from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and cannot operate legally until it has been granted. Councils are responsible for making sure businesses are working legally.
Before food can be sold strict food hygiene standards must be met.
During their visit the officers found there was no washbasin in the cutting room as it had been disconnected. The drainage channels were also blocked and damaged and the walls and flooring dirty.
The walls inside the walk-in chiller were in a poor state of repair with internal insulation exposed
The refuse area was dirty, and a blocked drain was causing water to back up.
The company was immediately issued with a remedial action notice which required it to stop the operation of cutting chicken until the FSA granted permission.
However, the business ignored the notice and continued to cut chicken.
The council started legal proceedings and the case was heard at Tameside Magistrates.
Director Sajjad Hussain, 32 of Ewan Street, Manchester; Boola Halal Limited and Singlemorn UK Limited pleaded guilty to four charges under Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.
They were ordered to pay a total of £8,738 in fines, costs and victim surcharges.
