Latest news with #foodinspectors
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Fish on the Quay in Maldon pictures show extent of rat mess
Rat droppings were found next to drinks, a pizza oven and inside food packaging at an infested seafood restaurant, the BBC can also discovered smeared rodent faeces along the inner wall of a marquee at Fish on the Quay in Maldon, details emerged after Maldon District Council secured a court order to shut the venue down on restaurant did not respond when approached for comment, but a manager previously vowed to reopen. It was inspected on 13 June after a customer tipped the local authority off about food safety and hygiene concerns.A member of staff "quickly dashed to the kitchen" after spotting two inspectors arrive, documents obtained by the BBC showed. It was believed rats were nesting in sheds used for product storage and entering the kitchen via a gap in the door."Both showed signs of considerable rat activity with numerous droppings noted throughout and damage to food packaging," the report said, referring to the the kitchen, inspectors found a "considerable" number of droppings by a washing up area that stored clean equipment and were found next to condiments, on top of a jar of honey and on a shelf below a pizza oven, as well as in storage space for drinks and glasses. "On top of the fridge was a plastic mesh storage tray with dry foods present," one inspector noted. "As I lifted the tray, fresh rat droppings were falling out and when I removed the tray, rat droppings were present all over the top of the fridge. "In the mesh storage tray I could see a rat dropping inside food packaging."They said it presented an imminent risk to health, branding the state of the kitchen "extremely dangerous and completely unacceptable". The presence of rats at hospitality venues is treated as a health risk due to diseases they can pass to bacteria including salmonella, E. coli and leptospira - which can cause Weil's disease - can be carried by the rodents, which frequently defecate and on the Quay is also home to a pub and a bed and breakfast, both of which are affected by the closure order.A council spokesman said: "We continue to work with the business to support their reopening when the issues have been satisfactorily addressed." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The National
20-06-2025
- Health
- The National
Abu Dhabi restaurant closed over food safety violations
An Abu Dhabi restaurant has been shut down after a food safety inspection. The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (Adafsa) announced on Friday that Al Rabia Restaurant, in Gayathi – Al Dhafra Region – has been administratively closed due to food safety violations. A post on X states that practices in the restaurant pose a 'serious risk to public health'. It follows the closing down of five restaurants and one supermarket in the emirate last month. Lahore Garden Grill Restaurant & Cafeteria in Al Khalidiya; Karak Future Cafeteria in Abu Dhabi Island; and Al Maqam Corner Restaurant, Pak Ravi Restaurant (branch 1) and Salty Desi Darbar Restaurant, all in Musaffah Industrial Area, were closed, as was the Rich & Fresh Supermarket in Mohammed Bin Zayed City. All food outlets undergo regular inspections to ensure high food safety standards, Adafsa said. The authority also urged the public to report any violations, including suspected food contamination or non-compliance, by calling the Abu Dhabi Government's freephone number on 800 555. Driving up standards The authority carries out tens of thousands of inspections each year in an effort to protect the health of the public and take enforcement action against restaurants that break the rules. The National spent a day with food inspectors last year to take a closer look at how they work to raise food health standards. The authority said outlets with confirmed cases of food poisoning are shut with immediate effect and cannot reopen until they pass an inspection. Establishments where customers previously suffered food poisoning and outlets that had complaints made against them through official channels are most likely to be under enhanced scrutiny, as is any business that was given a low grade in previous inspections. Assessments are conducted at restaurants, cafes, cloud kitchens and schools, as well as businesses that recently received a licence to operate. Inspections happen without notice and can vary in frequency. Watch: A day with Abu Dhabi's food inspectors
