A takeaway owner whose fried chicken shop got a one-star food hygiene rating has spoken out about how “bad” the damning rating made him feel.
Jalal Ali, 35, who owns FFC (Fast Fried Chicken) in Harehills Lane has defended his business and opened up about the detrimental affect the rating has had. If his business suffers, the father-of-two worries about keeping up with the bills.
Inspectors told Jalal to clean his dirty toilet, to stop washing raw chicken in the kitchen sink and install a sink for staff to wash their hands in the toilet room. They added his staff’s food hygiene knowledge was inadequate and they needed immediate training.
Read more: We tried Leeds' 'best street food' where the meals proved a mixed bag
Safety methods were also “not being followed” after finding a food safety manual which was not up-to-date. Raw chicken was also found stored next to uncooked lettuce, risking cross contamination.
Jalal has made assurances that most of the inspector’s findings were a big mix-up. The inspectors gave FFC the second lowest rating possible after their visit on May 11., meaning “major improvement is necessary”.
Leeds City Council has said its inspectors re-visited in June and said FFC would likely score a four-star hygiene rating. Jalal has to pay £215 for a full re-inspection, however.
Jalal, who is originally from Iraq and has owned FFC since 2010, said: “It made me feel bad. I have had this business for a long time and I pay a mortgage, rent, electricity and gas. If this business goes down, then what do I have to do?
“I apologise for anything that’s happened, if there’s something they [customers] don’t like or if there’s anything wrong. But we’ve never had anyone bring food back, never, never.”
He claims the dirty toilet was due to it being redecorated at the time, which also accounts for there being no sink. He’s added that he wasn’t there during the inspection and he says this also worked against them.
Jalal said: “It was not dirty. There was some redecoration going on and we only finished it. We didn’t have hot water at the time, only cold water. Now I’ve done it. We’ve done everything, all jobs already done.
“It was dirty in May but he came back in June and said it was fine, that everything was good."
Hot water and taps have since been installed in the staff toilets.
Jalal dismissed any notion that he would wash raw chicken in the sink but admitted that his staff may have made this perilous mistake during the inspection.
He said: “We don’t wash raw chicken in the kitchen. I’ve worked in takeaways for 17 years now, no one washes chicken in the sink in my business. Maybe ask my staff, some staff they don’t know.”
The father of two, aged two and four, employs three members of staff at FFC. They’ve each worked there for six years, four years and five months.
Asked whether he’s provided the training to staff which the inspectors demanded, he said : “No. They don’t want it. It’s a busy shop.”
Then asked about the raw chicken found stored next to lettuce, risking cross-contamination, he said: “It was one box of fillets next to the lettuce.”
The takeaway owner assures customers his shop is clean and they will not have any issues from ordering there.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “The initial inspection carried out at FFC did identify a number of areas of non compliance and the food business was asked to remedy the defects within a given timescale.
"The inspector then re-inspected in June to ensure the required improvements had been made, which they had. At this reinspection the inspector advised the food business that the premises would now likely score a food hygiene rating of 4 (good) when re-rated. However a further rating inspection would be required and would be subject to a fee of £215 as is standard for all food businesses.
“All food businesses in Leeds are regularly inspected by Environmental Health Officers on a risk-basis to check their compliance with legislation all food businesses must follow and which are designed to protect food safety and public health.
"To protect public health it is vital that food businesses are kept clean, in good repair, have all the necessary facilities, and have effective food management practices in place.”
Read next:
- Leeds' oldest pub bracing for 'horrendous' heating bills as they can't update building
- The Leeds brothers who have created the 'ultimate' Leeds beer for the city
- Famous butcher Malcolm Michaels becomes the 'best looking granddad in Leeds'
- Stupendous restaurant near Leeds didn't disappoint with delightful dishes
- Leeds pub slammed as a disgrace for allowing controversial punk band to perform
