Ibrahim’s Grill and Steak House on Warwick Road in Birmingham has been fined £50,000 for breaches of food hygiene regulations.

The prosecution was commenced after a visit to the restaurant by Birmingham City Council’s Environmental Health Officers to assess food hygiene.

The officers found that the premises was not being cleaned efficiently and food was being served on wooden plates that could not be properly cleaned.

Improvement notices were served on the food business operator that required steps to be taken by it to improve conditions.  However, the same wooden plates were still being used to serve food when the Council’s officers did a return inspection two months later.

Mark Croxford, who is the head of environmental health at Birmingham City Council noted that “It is completely unacceptable for businesses to put the health of people eating at their restaurants at risk. The owners were given sound advice which they chose to ignore”.

James Lowe, George Green’s Regulatory and Licensing Partner, stated that: “This case highlights that the courts continue to embrace the new sentencing guidelines for food hygiene offences.  Food operators who fail to comply with food hygiene regulations can expect to receive high fines if they are prosecuted by local authorities. It is important that early legal advice is sought following any visit from environmental health officers where hygiene improvement or prohibition notices are served”.

Should you or your business face food hygiene enforcement action by a local authority, or receive a low Food Hygiene Rating, call our specialist Regulatory and Licensing Partner, James Lowe, on 07833 240400.

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