A restaurant and takeaway has been fined by magistrates for food hygiene breaches after an investigation was launched when a customer reported becoming ill from eating their food.
Damasecene, on the High Street, Slough, was fined for having unsafe food available to be served when visited by inspectors.
Food and safety team inspectors also found other high risk food was kept at the wrong temperatures allowing dangerous bacteria to grow. There was also inadequate cleaning of preparation equipment and utensils.
The council was contacted by a resident who became unwell and suspected the Damascene meal.
The food and safety team visited the restaurant and took samples of food for examination. The team found bulk quantities of cooked rice which was not cooled down correctly and was not kept at the right temperature allowing potentially harmful bacteria to grow. There was also evidence of cross contamination between raw and cooked food.
The restaurant was given zero out of five stars in a visit on 15 August 2019, due to the poor findings which were also found on a repeat visit a month later. As a result two Hygiene Improvement Notices were served in September 2019.
Samples of food from the restaurant were sent to Public Health England which stated they were indicative of some major food safety failings and presented a significant public health risk.
Derar Belel, who owns Damas Rose Limited which trades as Damascene, admitted a total of 17 food hygiene breaches from 15 August and 17 September 2019, during a hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Friday 12 February.
Magistrates fined Damas Rose Ltd £4,000, ordered it to pay £5,000 towards the council’s costs and a £181 victim surcharge. Mr Belel was fined £175 and ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge.
The court heard Mr Belel had commissioned a food consultant to advise the business and employees on best practice. This was observed during an inspection in November 2019, leading to the decision both Hygiene Improvement Notices had been complied with.
Mr Belel had also completed The Safer Food Better Business Catering pack and all food handlers were trained in the Safe Methods.
Magistrates said they were pleased the business had made significant improvements but could not ignore the fact customers could have been made unwell as a result of the unsafe food found by council inspectors.
Mr Belel told the court mistakes had been made and he and the restaurant had worked hard to improve their food hygiene rating which is now four out of five stars. He said it had lost 60 per cent of its business due to the pandemic.
Cllr Pavitar K. Mann, cabinet member for planning and regulation, said: “Residents need to be confident the food they purchase from the borough’s food premises is safe.
“On this occasion unsafe food was found for sale and standards were not satisfactory at the business.
“The food and safety team are there to offer advice and help for businesses who want to check they are carrying out safe and correct procedures. Business owners have a legal and moral responsibility to comply with the law.
“We would encourage all businesses to follow the advice and recommendations they are given by the food and safety team. This will help them be the best they can and prevent customers becoming ill and any subsequent legal proceedings.
“We hope other food establishments are aware of the consequences for not complying with food hygiene standards.”