Chippie owner fined for mouldy meat pies

A chip shop owner who sold undercooked chicken and pies covered in mould from his Black Country shop has been ordered to pay more than £3,700.

Gurmail Bhandal, aged 49, never took a basic hygiene course and told health and safety inspectors he did not know correct temperatures for storing cooked food, Wolverhampton magistratesheard. Bhandal, of Wanderers Avenue, Blakenhall, took over Green Lanes Chippy, Green Lanes, Bilston, in June 2007 but did not register with the council.

He sold clothes for 14 years and mobile phone accessories for six years.

Mr Robert Marshall, prosecuting, said environmental health officers got a complaint from a woman who bought a meat and potato Pukka pie.

He said: "She had asked for one from the fridge so she could cook it later for her husband's meal.

"He began his meal by lifting the lid off the pie and saw that it was mouldy inside.

"On March 14 another complaint was received about a portion of Southern Fried Chicken that was undercooked. It was red and pink inside."

Bhandal yesterday admitted six charges including contravening the provisions of his business, selling food of poor quality, selling food past its sell-by date and selling food not fit for human consumption.

Mr Marshall said inspectors found burger buns stored on the same level of the fridge as raw meat, and the counter where cooked food was kept hot was only at 53C when the legal requirement to avoid contamination is 63C. They also found a mouldy chicken and sweetcorn pie in the shop.

Bhandal admitted keeping Pukka pies in the fridge for four days after defrosting them when they should be consumed within 24 hours of thawing.

Mr Sarbjit Lalli, defending, said the father-of-two had complied with every requirement since the visit and had booked himself on a food hygiene course.

"Mr Bhandal has improved his stock rotation," he said. "Thankfully nobody became ill." Bhandal was fined £2,300, ordered to pay costs of £1,448.23 and a surcharge of £15.