Health and Safety Update (September 2009)
TGI Friday's Fined £30,000 for 'catalogue of hygiene
offences'
Restaurant chain TGI Friday's has been fined £30,000 after
pleading guilty to a catalogue of hygiene offences uncovered during
an investigation by Westminster council.
Environmental health officers conducted a surprise visit on the
Covent Garden restaurant on 2 July 2008 after receiving six
separate complaints from customers who had seen mice scuttling
around inside. The officers shut down the restaurant after
finding a pile of dead cockroaches, mouse droppings and grease
covered cabinets around its filthy kitchens. The resulting clean-up
operation, which cost the chain £66,000, caught 65 mice and was six
days before the popular American-themed restaurant reopened.
Councillor Daniel Astaire, said-
'These were appalling hygiene breaches, particularly for such a
renowned restaurant chain which frankly, should have known better.
We hope this serves as a lesson to all food businesses that such
poor standards are not acceptable and that we will always push for
the strongest possible punishment against offenders. The restaurant
industry is a vital part of our economy, and we will not tolerate
any behaviour which could jeopardise it or the safety of our
millions of visitors.'
The restaurant pleaded guilty to six offences under the Food
Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 at City of Westminster
Magistrates on Wednesday 26th August 2009, and was ordered to pay
the maximum fine of £5000 per offence, as well as covering all the
council's costs.
Environmental health manager, James Armitage, said after the
hearing:
'A restaurant of the size and stature of TGIs should be an
exemplar to others, but this is one of the worst cases I've ever
come across and the restaurant was virtually a breeding ground for
rodents. It was made all the worse by the fact that staff had known
about the mice infestation for over a year.'
We can advise you on any aspect of food hygiene and audit your
kitchens for compliance with Regulations. Call the advice line or
your Consultant for more information.