A rodent-infested food wholesaler has been hit by a huge fine after Manchester City Council officers uncovered a litany of offences
Gorton Superstore, in Hyde Road Gorton, and its owner Christian Ogbonna, 40, of Humphries Court, Manchester, appeared before Manchester Magistrates’ Court charged with six contraventions of food and hygiene regulations.
The offences came to light following an inspection of this business on August 16, 2023, by the Council’s Environmental Health Team.
During their visit they discovered a host of unacceptable violations of basic food safety and hygiene standards.
There was an active rodent infestation, with a number of dead and decomposing animals found throughout the premises, as well as in un-emptied traps. Gnawed food packaging was also found, as well as the overall premises being dirty, with poor hygiene practices demonstrated throughout.
There was no pest control contract in place, there was no food management documentation that would set out controls for cleaning and stock rotation.
Ogbonna did not contest the allegations and at the court hearing he and the businesses entered guilty pleas to six charges under The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.
When sentencing, the Magistrates fined the business £12,000 for the offences. They also ordered it to pay costs of £3,180.
