Black mould inside food containers and pans left in the yard – York restaurant hygiene horror

The owner of a restaurant which had mould in its food storage containers and kept cooking pans outside has been hit with a hefty fine.

Maks Chinese Takeaway, of 106 Fishergate, York, was unclean and at risk from contamination, York Magistrates’ Court heart on Tuesday (October 9).

After four inspections by City of York Council environmental health officers had uncovered breaches of food safety and hygiene regulations, the owner was charged.

Meng Zhi Lin, aged 34 of Kensington Road, York, is formerly known as Wei Yan. He intentionally gave his previous name to environmental health officers during an inspection, in an attempt to distance himself from Maks.

But it wasn’t enough to evade a bill of £3,266, made up of a £738 fine and a £73 court surcharge in addition to £2,455 prosecution costs.

Customers protected

More City of York Council images from inside Maks

Magistrates heard that officers discovered a litany of hygiene offences at Maks.

Food equipment, including colanders and pans, were stored outside in the yard.

Food storage containers were affected by black mould. Cooked chicken was stored at room temperature and there were no staff training records.

Meng Zhi Lin pleaded guilty to four charges:

• the food premises had not been kept clean
• food hadn’t been protected from contamination
• no hazard analysis procedure was in place
• and the wall surfaces were not kept in good condition for cleaning.

A City of York Council spokeswoman said:

• York offers many very good food premises and we want customers from the city and beyond to be confident in the quality of all the restaurants and takeaways they visit.

  Thanks to our food hygiene team’s vigilance, these issues have been identified and customers protected.
  

Advice on food hygiene is available at york.gov.uk/FoodSafetyStandards.