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Dead rat spotted floating in waste oil at 'filthy' takeaway

Bosses at a 'disgusting and filthy' takeaway where a dead rat was spotted floating on waste oil has been fined £22,000.

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Mamaz, in Wolverhampton Street, Dudley. Picture: Google

Owners of Dudley fast food eatery Mamaz were brought before the courts after health inspectors discovered a raft of serious hygiene failings.

Dirty kitchen equipment was found in the takeaway and there was no hot water at the Wolverhampton Street outlet.

Councillor Cathy Bayton, Dudley Council's cabinet member responsible for health and wellbeing, said: "Conditions at this takeaway were extremely poor and it is right the owners of this business, which has now closed, have been held to account and incurred such a significant financial penalty.

"While we prefer to work with businesses to secure compliance with the law, we will not hesitate to take legal action against the minority of food businesses proprietors who do not take our advice on board and who fail to meet their legal responsibilities.

"I want to reassure the public that the vast majority of food businesses in the borough are well run and compliant with hygiene and safety rules."

Dudley Council’s environmental health officers found owners failed to put in place adequate food safety management procedures during an inspection last August.

Equipment was dirty, including a food mixer, pizza oven, chopping boards, can opener, chest freezer and microwave.

Raw lamb burgers were stored above ready to eat foods in a fridge, while floors and a ceiling were defective and not capable of being cleaned.

A lid to the waste oil container in the rear yard was missing and a dead rat was floating on top of the oil, Dudley Magistrates' Court heard.

Councillor Cathy Bayton

Councillor Bayton added: "More than half of all food outlets in the borough are achieving the top hygiene rating of five, with the vast majority achieving a satisfactory rating of three or more.

"I would urge consumers to check out hygiene ratings online as these will give consumers a glimpse of what is going on in the kitchen when they eat out, or behind the scenes at the places they shop."

Owners Maqsood Ahmed, 41, and Mohammed Saghir, 43, admitted 11 breaches of food safety and hygiene regulations.

Charges included failing to keep the premises and equipment clean and in good repair and condition, failing to provide hot water to the sink and wash hand basin, and failing to comply with an improvement notice requiring hot water to be provided at a sink.

They were each handed £11,000 fines and ordered to pay £410 costs along with a £100 victim surcharge.

The premises has now changed ownership and has recently re-opened under a new name, the council confirmed.