The manager of a takeaway business has admitted food hygiene offences after a council officer discovered the premises in a dirty and greasy condition, with food exposed to risk of contamination. The Golden Gate Chinese takeaway at Chapel Street in Cwmbran was visited by an officer in December following a complaint from a visitor, who said it was dirty and that there were rats.
The officer said they found no evidence of rats but said during their visit surfaces in the premises were dirty, with high levels of grease around, behind and below equipment. A sack of onions was also found to be exposed to flood water, and open containers of sauce were stored on a dirty concrete floor.
The officer also found that staff had not been trained in food hygiene standards, were not properly supervised, and there were inadequate systems in place to proactively manage food safety. A notice was then issued for the takeaway to close so improvements could be made, and the lowest rating of zero was issued.
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The Golden Gate at Chapel Street has since permanently closed at the site and has now been set up at Station Road as a bar and restaurant. The company posted on a new Facebook page on Tuesday, August 23, declaring themselves open and sharing photos of a bar and dining area, two days before their court date at Cwmbran Magistrates Court on Thursday, August 25.
In court manager Tiancheng Chen, 38, pleaded guilty to four food hygiene offences; failing to keep the premises clean and maintain it in good condition, failing to protect food from risk of contamination, failing to implement permanent procedure for processes, and failing to ensure food handlers are supervised and instructed and trained in food hygiene matters.
Mr Chen was fined £923 - reduced to £615 for his early guilty pleas. He was also ordered to pay a £62 victim surcharge and the council’s full investigative costs amounting to £1,279.78.
Councillor Mandy Owen, executive member for environment at Torfaen Council, said: “The conditions found at the Golden Gate Chinese fell far below acceptable standards. Our officers responded quickly to the concerns raised and closed the business until standards were improved, in order to protect public health. Although the manager cooperated with officers, he should never have allowed the takeaway to get into the state in which it was found.”
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