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The owner of a town centre takeaway in Swindon has been fined more than £2,000 after the council’s environmental health officers uncovered a catalogue of health and safety failures.
The owner of the Best Burritoz takeaway, Ranjit Matharu, was accused of:
– Failure to keep premises clean and well-maintained
– Failure to protect food products from contamination
– Failure to ensure areas in contact with food were clean and hygienic
– Failure to arrange for staff to undergo the proper health and safety training
Inspectors from Swindon Council who visited the property on several occasions between 2008 and 2010 found decomposing vegetables such as courgettes and tomatoes kept on the premises.
Mr Matharu pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations in Swindon Magistrates Court and was fined £2,250. He was also ordered to pay £500 in costs.
Commenting on the verdict, Phil Thomas, Swindon Council’s head of community and commercial safety, said:

“Environmental health officers will always look to work with businesses to help them understand and implement the law.
However, if owners are reluctant to comply with hygiene practices and cleaning procedures then it is in the public interest to take enforcement action.
The court’s decision sends a clear message to food proprietors that food safety is a serious matter and persistent breaches will not be tolerated.”