Birmingham pizza shop fined £4,000 after workers couldn't describe allergen ingredients in menu items

Workers at a Birmingham Pizza takeaway were unable to describe allergens and ingredients contained in food they sold, a court heard.

Mediterranean Pizza, based in School Road, faced two breaches of the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013 act at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Thursday, August 13.

But representatives from the company failed to attend the hearing and the matter was proved in their absence.

The first charge related to a failure to provide accurate information with regards to 14 prescribed ingredients that could cause allergies and intolerances in the food produced and sold.

The second related to a failure to make available information regarding relevant foods. The offences took place between September and November last year.

Kate Simms, prosecuting on behalf of Birmingham City Council, said officers had previously visited the premises in 2024 in relation to poor knowledge of food allergens.

On that occasion, guidance and advice was given on what the company had to do to rectify the issues.

But, in September 2025, council officers carried out a revisit of the business and requested information on a pizza and donner burger but the court was told “staff could not explain the allergens or ingredients at that time”.

An improvement notice was served on the company and the council entered into dialogue with the director.

Kate Simms said the director of Mediterranean Pizza had complied with officers during the process but “the offences had already been committed”.

She said: “This causes a risk to public health. The potential for an allergic reaction is serious.

“There is some mitigation, the defendant did co-operate with officers but they had failed to put standards in place.”

Magistrates issued a £4,000 fine and ordered the company to pay a £1,600 surcharge and prosecution costs of £1,937.35.