Burger King bosses fined £12k over mouse droppings
Bosses of Burger King in Birmingham's Bullring have been ordered to pay £13,389 after mouse droppings were found on the site.
Environmental health officers found droppings in the food preparation and storage areas, as well as evidence of inadequate cleaning and food exposed to risk of contamination.
Caspian Food Services Ltd, based at The Cedars, 2 High Street, Bagshot, in Surrey, which operates the restaurant, was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £1,389 towards costs. The firm was prosecuted by Birmingham City Council, pleading guilty to four offences under food safety rules on December 10 last year.
The inspection took place last February and the site has since achieved a top hygiene rating.
Councillor Barbara Dring, chairman of the city council's Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: "High risk and ready-to-eat foods were processed and cooked in areas which were dirty and where mouse droppings were found, and therefore were at risk from being contaminated.
"While Caspian Food Services Ltd managed to rectify the issues identified by our officers – since achieving the top food hygiene rating of 5 during an unannounced inspection on June 30. This shows that even the most reputable or popular restaurants can have sub-standard practices.
"All food businesses in Birmingham are included in a regular inspection programme which is designed to ensure they all operate to a good standard, and firms that don't comply with these strict standards will be prosecuted."
