Dead mouse found at West Midlands takeaway

A Birmingham Indian takeaway where a dead mouse and widespread rodent droppings were discovered has been hit hard in the pocket.

Zaiqa Catering Birmingham Limited, which runs Handi Roti in Hob Moor Road, and its director Muhammad Bilal Malik admitted four charges each related to breaches of the Food and Hygiene Regulations 2013 act.

At a hearing on July 16, Birmingham Magistrates Court was told how a dead mouse and mice droppings were found in various locations including floors, trays and shelves throughout the premises in an inspection in May 2025.

Officers also found the premises were not maintained in good repair and condition while equipment was not effectively cleaned and disinfected.

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Michelle Brown, prosecuting for Birmingham City Council, said in the past, the business had been given the lowest one out of five food hygiene rating after previous inspections.

When an inspection was carried out May 23 2025, the premises were found to be in a “dirty and unhygienic” condition.

She said: “The environmental health officer determined there was an imminent risk to public health due to vermin.

“An environmental prohibition notice was served on the company, requiring immediate closure of the premises.

“On May 27 2025, a re-inspection was undertaken and substantial remedial works including pest control measures and deep cleaning had taken place.

“The imminent risk to health no longer existed and the premises were allowed to reopen.”

She added a subsequent re-score inspection in October last year saw the business awarded an improved three out of five rating.

Ms Brown said: “The subsequent improvements made by the company showed they could be remedied but that only happened after enforcement action was taken. There had been a disregard for the legislation.

Director Malik said the takeaway selling Indian food was a small business which he started up two years ago.

He said: “I have pleaded guilty but I have worked a lot on the shop and spent a lot of money (to make improvements).

“We are really sorry about what happened in the past but now we are getting better. Hopefully this will not be happening in the future again.

“We have a good hygiene rating which, at the moment, is four out of five.”

Magistrates told Malik the offences committed were a “serious matter” and fined the company £10,000 and ordered a surcharge of £4,000 and costs of £500. Malik himself was handed a 12 month conditional discharge as well as a £26 surcharge.