Emergency Hygiene Probe Forces Six Restaurants to Close
Six Chinese restaurants at the Han Dynasty Food Hall in Birmingham city centre were forced to shut for up to three days after an emergency hygiene probe uncovered mouse droppings, Birmingham Magistrates' Court heard on Thursday, July 23. The closures followed a complaint about "mouse activity" at the Kei Hing restaurant, run by KH Catering, on the first floor of 143 Bromsgrove Street.
Inspections Reveal Widespread Contamination
Environmental health inspectors from Birmingham City Council discovered mouse droppings in the Kei Hing kitchen, prompting checks at other takeaways within the food hall. Droppings were found on kitchen shelving units, next to containers, and on the floor. At Fangyangland BBQ, a "mouse jumped out of a box," the court was told. Council prosecutors stated this "presented an imminent risk to public health" at the time of the inspection on Monday, July 20.
Restaurants Affected and Legal Action
The five other eateries forced to close were Barrel Sister, Wok & Peace, Fangyangland BBQ, Xiao Long Bao & Dumpling, and Northern Iron Pot. Hygiene emergency prohibition orders under The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 were issued by environmental health officers Adrienne Oliver and Sharon Kearns. Justices of the Peace formally signed declarations confirming the orders were warranted due to the imminent risk.
Reopening After Deep Cleaning
Inspectors enforced strict conditions requiring deep cleaning at each restaurant, owned by different catering firms. All six were reopened either on Wednesday, July 22, or by Thursday, July 23, after passing re-inspection hygiene checks. They continue to trade as normal. Follow-up inspections are expected in the coming months, according to the council.
