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The owner of a pizza takeaway restaurant in Woolwich has received a hefty fine after environmental health inspectors found a number of food hygiene breaches at his premises, including mouse droppings found inside pizza takeaway boxes.

Pizza Inn, owned by Wagas Amin and situated on Woolwich High Street, was inspected by Greenwich Environmental Health Officers in October. They found the following issues, most of which are covered as part of basic food hygiene training courses:

• No hot water supply for cleaning
• Filthy conditions in the kitchen
• Mouse faeces on work surfaces, in food stores and in pizza boxes

A pest control company had also told Mr Amin that “mice were active in all areas” of the premises and had suggested improvements that had not been followed.

Mr Amin was ordered to close his restaurant to deal with the infestation and the cleanliness issues and was also fined £2,320 at Bexley Magistrates Court after he admitted breaching a number of food hygiene regulations.

Councillor Maureen O’Mara, who is Greenwich Council’s cabinet member for community safety and the environment, said:

“The Royal Borough of Greenwich is committed to working with owners to ensure they operate safe food businesses within the law.
“The vast majority achieve this, but we never tolerate risks to customer health through poor standards of hygiene and when owners such as Mr Amin allow food hygiene to deteriorate, we will swiftly pursue legal action.”