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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Damon Wilkinson & Sara Odeen-Isbister

Filthy and illegal chicken factory shut down as inspectors find horrific conditions

An illegal chicken factory was told to shut down after inspectors found staff working in filthy and unsanitary conditions.

Environmental health officers visiting Boola Halal in Oldham discovered dirty walls and floors, a basin that wasn't connected and blocked drains.

One shocking photo shows raw meat dumped on the floor, Manchester Evening News reports.

Despite being told to shut down immediately, the business, which supplies chicken to restaurants and takeaways, carried on trading and was later taken to court and fined more than £8,700.

The officers discovered the plant was operating without permission from the Food Standards Agency in February.

Meat lies dumped on the ground at the chicken factory (Oldham council)

During a visit the officers found there was no washbasin in the cutting room as it had been disconnected, drains were blocked and damaged and the walls and flooring dirty.

Walls inside the walk-in chiller were also found in a poor state of repair with internal insulation exposed and the refuse area was dirty, with a blocked drain causing water to back up.

Boola Halal have been fine more than £8,700 after operating illegally (Oldham council)

The company, now trading as Singlemorn UK Limited, was immediately issued with a remedial action notice which required it to stop operating until the FSA granted permission.

But the business ignored the order and carried on working. At Tameside magistrates' court director Sajjad Hussain, 32 from Manchester and Boola Halal Limited and Singlemorn UK Limited pleaded guilty to four charges under Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.

Magistrates said the chicken plant had unhygienic conditions (Oldham council)

They were ordered to pay a total of £8,738 in fines, costs and victim surcharges.

Emma Barton, Oldham council's executive director for place and economic growth, said: "Food hygiene regulations are in in place for a reason – to protect members of the public and to ensure high standards are maintained.

She added: "Businesses must operate within these laws. Our staff will continue to visit premises and take action against those who break the law."

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