Mouse droppings found at Chinese takeaway

Mouse droppings and a cockroach infestation were discovered during a routine inspection at a Chinese takeaway in Wolverhampton before it was temporarily closed down amid health fears, a court heard.

The owner of Jade Garden takeaway in Whetstone Green, Bushbury, has now been ordered to pay more than £3,347 in fines and costs.

Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard how mouse droppings were found in the serving area, behind fridges and freezers and on a metal rack used to store fresh fruit and vegetables during a routine environmental health inspection last November.

Miss Jacky Bramley, prosecuting on behalf of Wolverhampton City Council yesterday, said only one bottle of cleaning fluid was found in the kitchen and none of the staff had received formal hygiene training.

The takeaway was allowed to re-open a week later when the council was satisfied it was adequately clean and pest-free.

Management company F&M (Midlands) Ltd claimed it had an agreement for a pest controller to visit every three months.

Director of the takeaway Maggie Poon admitted two counts of contravening food hygiene regulations, said new cleaning procedures had since been introduced and staff were following the Safer Food, Better Business programme.

Passing sentence, District Judge Michael Wheeler said: "This sentence takes into account improvements which have been made."