A Leeds takeaway was so “dirty” and “filthy”, the food hygiene inspector demanded a “deep clean”.
Khyber Balti House in Swinnow Lane, Pudsey, was given a one-star food hygiene rating after it was inspected on August 8. The inspector found "food debris" on the kitchen floor, cobwebs lingering on places in need of a clean and food spattered across the dirty “mouldy” walls, along with “many dirty hand contact points”.
The "appalled" manager claims the shop is now under new ownership, with the new owners taking over 21 days after the inspection, on August 29. Manager Adam Khan says he was taken aback when he first entered the store on that day, saying "What the hell is actually going on here?"
Read more: Upset Leeds takeaway boss says one star rating made him feel 'bad'
A one star food hygiene rating is the second-lowest rating possible. The inspector wrote that the building needed a refurbishment as many surfaces were "dirty and damaged".
They listed 14 areas which were in need of a deep clean. They said: “Deep cleaning is required, such examples are: “Dirty cold room floor, filthy wall surfaces around the wash hand basin in the rear prep room, flaking paint to the windowsill above the sink, filthy floor with debris below the sink.
“Accumulation of dust on the extract ducting, dirty wash hand basin, dirty walls around the food mixer, landing walls spattered with food around the chest freezer, mouldy and damaged wall surface to the rear dry store, greasy front kitchen ceiling, cobwebs on the cooker canopy filter, dirty, greasy and food debris laden front kitchen floor, dirty walls to front kitchen.
“Clean the filthy fan grilles inside the cold room.”
They also found the cooker canopy filters “dripping with grease” and old dried dough in the dough machine which needed promptly cleaning.
Open raw chicken was also found uncovered in the fridge, stored next to ready to eat sauces which risked cross-contamination. There was also no lighting in the toilet lobby
There was no written food safety management system in place and food handlers needed training. They were to contain waste properly, as there were piles of boxes at bottom of stairs.
'We're appalled by report,' claims manager
The manager Adam Khan, 27, said: "We are actually appalled by it. We got new staff in. The old staff that was here wasn't up to our standards, cleaning-wise and everything like that. It is what it is.
"We are starting to make improvements now, there's only so much the owners can do.
"It appalls us because in the past there was food getting sent out on a daily basis. So for the old owners and the old managers to not get this stuff sorted in the past is appalling.
"I didn't know anything about this place. When I came in, I started looking around and thought 'What the hell is actually going on here?' We closed for the day and did a full deep clean."
Adam added the new owners have also installed new cladding, flooring and sheeting in the back and laminate. He said the owners are now focused on revamping the whole shop over time. Although they've avoided closing for a significant period of time, which would have facilitated work, as they wouldn't be able to keep paying staff.
He's said they clean the shop thoroughly after closing now and carry out a deep clean every three to four days.
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