Fighting Cocks Supermarket on Dudley Road in Wolverhampton has been ordered to pay more than £8,000 after environmental health officers discovered a significant rat infestation during a routine inspection in January this year. The premises was closed immediately and only allowed to reopen once the immediate risk to health had been removed.
Evidence of rodent activity
Officers from City of Wolverhampton Council found evidence of rodent activity across several areas of the sales floor and warehouse. This included rat droppings, gnawed food, empty gnawed food packaging, gnawed fixtures and fittings, and rat footprints on dusty cans of food.
Additional issues identified included poor warehouse control, which made pest problems difficult to spot, a lack of suitable handwash provision at the butchery counter and WC, raw and ready-to-eat food stored together in the butchery fridge, mouldy food containers in the butchery fridge, a dirty WC cubicle, and the display of the wrong food hygiene rating sticker.
Court proceedings and penalties
Fighting Cocks Supermarket pleaded guilty to three breaches of The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 at Dudley Magistrates Court on June 24. The breaches were: failing to protect food against any contamination likely to render it unfit for human consumption, failing to have adequate procedures in place to control pests, and failing to ensure the premises was kept clean and maintained in good repair and condition.
The business was fined £3,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £1,200, and £4,000 in costs, totalling £8,200.
Council response
Cllr Qaiser Azeem, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “This is a highly concerning case in which a business knowingly placed its customers at risk. Poor food hygiene can lead to serious illness and, in this instance, the company showed a complete disregard for the safety of those that trusted it.
“When food businesses fail to meet the required standards, our environmental health officers will take action and provide guidance on the improvements needed. This was the case with Fighting Cocks Supermarket, and we will continue to monitor the premises to ensure compliance and protect the public. We are committed to safeguarding residents and consumers, and this case should serve as a clear reminder that we take food hygiene standards extremely seriously in Wolverhampton.”
