A KFC branch in east London has been fined nearly £25,000 after rats overran its kitchen, forcing the restaurant to be shut down due to “an imminent risk to public health”.
Customers enjoying a fried chicken lunch were told to leave the premises in High Road, Leytonstone following an urgent inspection by Waltham Forest Council.
Environmental health officers discovered “obvious signs of rodents” and droppings throughout the business, including in food storage and preparation areas.
They added the KFC outlet had “very poor levels of hygiene” where the food was being prepared and cooked in August 2022.
Gnawed bags of breading flour were in a storeroom, a large rat hole in the floor and an open drain in the rear yard.
KFC told the Standard since vital improvements were carried out, the branch has achieved a four-star hygiene rating since 2023.
Franchisee Triple D Limited and director Abdul Daroowala pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to put in place adequate procedures to control pests and poor levels of cleanliness, an offence under The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.
At Thames Magistrates’ Court on March 12, the company was fined £22,000, plus £2,339 in costs.
Daroowala, 76, of Chiswick, received a fine of £1,115, with an added victim surcharge of £446.
Jonathan Underhill, defending, said systems in place to deal with rat infestation and cleanliness were not functioning correctly.
Councillor Khevyn Limbajee, Waltham Forest’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “For a franchise under the brand of KFC this was a terrible breach of trust.
“With so many people ordering their food online these days they would have no idea what the state of the kitchens were like.
“We are pleased the magistrates have sent a clear message by issuing a significant fine.
“Waltham Forest Council will always act to protect the health of the public and prosecute food businesses where evidence identifies breaches of food safety laws.”
A KFC UK&I spokesman said: “Operating responsibly is our number one priority and we have strict processes in place to ensure the quality and hygiene standards of all our restaurants.
“This fine relates to an incident in 2022, after which the restaurant was closed on a short term basis.
“Since then, the restaurant team has worked hard with local authorities on vital improvements, and has had a four-star hygiene rating since 2023.”
Last May, a McDonald’s branch on the same road was fined £475,000 after mouse droppings were discovered in a cheeseburger wrapper.
