£22,000 Fine for Takeaway Following Hygiene Breaches

A Northampton takeaway has been fined £22,000 for "deplorable" hygiene breaches following the prosecution by West Northamptonshire Council.

At Wellingborough Magistrates Court on 27 September, the operator of Honey Moon Chinese takeaway, based at Harborough Road in Kingsthorpe, pleaded guilty to four charges of breaching food safety and hygiene regulations.

The prosecution follows a routine inspection carried out on 30 September 2021 when West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) Officers found that the kitchen was not kept clean, equipment in contact with food was in a filthy condition, food was not being stored safely, and some food appeared to have been gnawed on by pests.

The Food Business Operator, Apple Tree Leisure Limited, who owned the building, was charged with four counts of breaching the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.

The company received a total fine of £22,000 and was ordered to pay full costs of £2,400 and a victim surcharge of £190.

Cllr David Smith, WNC's Cabinet Member for community safety and engagement and regulatory services, said:

"I welcome the decision made by the Wellingborough Magistrates Court. We take these kinds of offences extremely seriously.

"Food business operators have a legal responsibility to provide safe food and maintain hygiene standards; those who do not must be held accountable for their actions.

"This prosecution by the Council sends out a clear message to the food industry that non-compliance will not be tolerated."