A FOOD storage and distribution business in Clydach was so badly infested with rat and mouse droppings, food hygiene officers were forced to close it down on the spot, a court heard.
The Swansea Council officers were visiting AT Catering in Lone Road, Clydach, to discuss with owner Abu Taleb whether the business needed regulatory approval.
But they were so taken aback by the state of the building and the amount of rodent droppings they found all around the unit, they issued an emergency notice instead and closed down the business.
However, Swansea Magistrates Court, was told that despite being issued with the notice, Taleb failed to comply with it and continued to supply businesses with food stored at the premises, putting consumers’ health at risk.
On January 26 Taleb, of Ael y Bryn, Fforestfach, appeared at Swansea Magistrates and pleaded guilty to six food hygiene and safety charges and was ordered to pay £5,340 in fines and costs.
David Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Performance at Swansea Council, said the food storage conditions at the premises were among the worst officers had seen in years.
He said: “The building’s condition was so poor that the officers who attended took immediate action and closed the business down straight away.
“The structural conditions at the unit did not meet food hygiene requirements and put anyone consuming the products stored there at serious risk of illness.
“The rodent infestation was both significant and widespread with droppings almost everywhere. Chest freezers were dirty with mould growth on the front of one of them and our officers found holes in ceilings and witnessed water dripping through them on to products like mango chutney and tinned tomatoes.
“Holes in the walls were allowing rodents in and out of the building who were quite clearly attracted by the amount of food available and our officers could find no evidence of proper pest control arrangements in place.”
The council officers’ first visit to AT Catering was in February last year during which they issued the closure notice, called a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order. The order remained in place after a re-visit two months later showed there were still substantial pest control and structural problems.
However, in May, 2022, Taleb stated in an email to food hygiene officers that he had sold stock stored at the Clydach unit to wholesalers, a decision in breach of the prohibition order issued months before.
Cllr Hopkins said: “The people of Swansea deserve to feel secure that the food on their plate is safe to eat. The overwhelming majority of food suppliers know the rules and abide by them.
“Our evidence to the court was that Mr Taleb knew the rules as well but chose to ignore them, putting people’s health at risk.
“Our message to residents and consumers is that our food safety teams are working hard to protect you from harm and this case demonstrates they will take immediate action if they need to.
“Our message to businesses is that if they don’t comply with rules designed to keep everyone safe, then we won’t hesitate to act and bring a case to court.”
