A hygiene inspector investigating a customer complaint about a dangerous looking plug socket at a Brighton takeaway found more than they bargained for when they uncovered a cockroach infestation.
The inspector visited Sobs takeaway in Dyke Road in February after a customer contacted Brighton and Hove City Council to complain about the socket and that staff weren’t wearing protective clothing and the premises were dirty.
The inspector spoke to staff and found that the socket was not live – but also uncovered an active cockroach infestation.
The discovery was detailed in one of six hygiene reports for venues given a one-star rating by the city council which were supplied to Brighton and Hove News this week.
The report said: “During the inspection a large live adult cockroach was seen stuck to some cello tape on the floor in the kitchen basement and a live young adult was seen on the floor near to the large dough mixer.
Some dead cockroach carcasses were also found on the floor under equipment and on the base of the large dough mixer and I located a cockroach trap that was full of cockroaches. I also found approximately eight rat droppings near to the drain in the rear basement store, which appeared old.
“The owner advised that he was not aware he had a current pest issue. He had carried out some precautionary cockroach treatment and lay traps about a year ago as he had been made aware of some issues in a nearby takeaway. No professional pest control contractor had been employed for treatment.
“He agreed to close the business to allow for thorough cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces and equipment, to check and cover/dispose of all food, food wrapping and packaging and to organise survey and treatment from a pest control company.”
The inspector visited the next day and allowed the takeaway to reopen, laying down 10 cockroach traps. When the inspector returned the following week, she found lots of cockroaches inside.
The owner told her that the cockroaches probably came from the empty takeaway next door, New Lotus, which had closed down after its owner was fined thousands of pounds and ordered to not work with food after a catalogue of hygiene breaches in 2016.
Pestokil visited Sobs the next day and said there were no current rat issues and that existing holes and gaps in the wall and drain were not of concern.
The inspector’s report also noted dirty surfaces and pizza trays. The takeaway was given an overall rating of 50, the highest score for a one-star rating. Any venues scoring more than 50 are given zero stars.
The premises has now been reinspected, and a revised rating is expected to be published soon.
The other reports released revealed the following:
Newroz kebab house in Preston Street
Inspected 12 February
Dirty surfaces, no hand washing or accessible basin, no separation of raw and cooked food, and inadequate cooling and heating of high risk foods. Score – 50
DoDo Fish and Chips in Dyke Road
Inspected 26 February
No hot water, dirty and damaged kitchen walls, floor and fridge, no written food safety system and poor training.
Score – 50
China Kitchen in Coombe Terrace
Inspected 24 January
Staff not washing hands after going to the toilet, dirty floor, skirting, walls and ceiling.
Score – 40
Adelaide Hotel in Regency Square
Inspected 22 February
Greasy non-disinfected and cluttered surfaces and equipment, including “grease running down the ventilation canopy”, dirty cupboards, unwashed tomatoes and mushrooms and no documented food safety management plan or records.
Score – 45
Ace Pizza in Preston Road
Inspected 13 February
Smoking in the food room, no handwashing after handling raw chicken, inadequate cleanliness and damaged wall and ceiling tiles and rear door.
Score – 50
There is too much of this going on in Brighton!
There seems to be a general contempt for hygiene in too many restaurants and fast food outlets?
It’s time the Health departments started making penalties more severe such as complete closure and revoked licence from selling and operating a takeaway… Forever?
It’s time examples were made of!