Food inspectors have shared pictures from inside a “dirty” takeaway that has been closed down twice in about eight months.
Runcorn Kebab House on High Street in Runcorn was deemed an “imminent risk of injury to health” following a visit from Halton Borough Council’s food hygiene officers. The ECHO reported on Tuesday how a Halton Borough Council environmental health officers secured a Food Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order at North Cheshire Magistrates’ Court in Warrington on Friday to close the fast food outlet once again.
It was previously shut in November due to an “unsafe and illegal gas installation” and “inadequate cleaning and handwashing facilities”, and allowed to reopen after making improvements. A Halton Council spokeswoman said Friday's closure order followed a routine inspection on July 5, which uncovered a range of “serious food hygiene breaches”.
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These included, inadequate refrigeration facilities for high risk food, inadequate separation of raw and ready-to-eat food, high risk food stored uncovered at room temperature, "dirty" work surfaces and equipment, a food safety management system that was not being followed, poor stock rotation and out-of-date food, and no hygienic means to wash or dry hands.
Court papers showed further problems were reported such as "evidence to suggest some records were being falsified" and "poor decorative finishes which were shedding matter such as paint thus posing a contamination risk to food".
The latest court order means takeaway must remain closed until the risks to health have been removed. Images from inside Runcorn Kebab House have now been shared with the ECHO.
They include wrapped pitta breads on the floor, a blemished fridge door and lintel, and a hole in a wall.
The council spokeswoman said: “It is disappointing that the owners of this premises have not learned the lessons from the previous closure in November 2021 and that officers have again had to take emergency action to protect public health.
“Officers will now consider what further action is required to ensure long term compliance at the premises.”
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