A food business operator of a takeaway in Aberdeen has been prosecuted and fined for food hygiene offences.
Mohammed Kioum who runs Get Stuffed on Market Street pled guilty to six charges and was sentenced at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 8 January 2018. The charges related to failure to comply with hygiene improvement notices under Regulation 6(2) of the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and contravention and failure to comply with any specified Community provision under Regulation 17(1) of the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006. These specifically referred to an incomplete and unimplemented food safety management system, equipment disrepair, poor cleaning standards and inadequate personal hygiene.
The notices were served following initial visits by Aberdeen City Council Environmental Health Officers in February and June 2016. On the revisits in August 2016 and again in January 2017 they discovered that the notices had not been complied with.
During the visits they noticed poor personal hygiene and on one occasion witnessed an employee preparing food without washing their hands after having handled money. On all occasions the premises had inadequate cleaning standards.
Representing Mr Kioum, defence lawyer Chris Maitland said his client had attempted to carry out the improvements. He said: “He has now provided the relevant training to his staff.”
Sheriff, Andrew Miller said: “It is very important that anyone responsible for the running of businesses which serves food to members of the public is aware of and complies with hygiene provisions.
“I take account of the fact you have no prior convictions and no record of breaches of this legislation.”
Mr Kioum was fined £300 each for two charges, totalling £600. He was admonished and dismissed for the other four charges
Aberdeen City Council’s policy is to prosecute if a hygiene improvement notice is not complied with. Prosecution reports are very time consuming but in this case it has proven to be worthwhile and demonstrates that poor food hygiene standards will not be tolerated.
