Restaurant Owner fined £2,250 for poor hygiene standards

The former owner of a now closed, Indian restaurant and take-away has been prosecuted by The Highland Council after Environmental Health Officers found poor hygiene conditions.

Officers inspected the restaurant formally known as the Indian Garden Restaurant, 7 Bridge Street, Inverness, in September 2008 following an allegation of rat sightings. On inspection, officers found evidence of rat droppings in the rear food store and identified a number of food hygiene failings within the catering operation. Mr Iqbal Ali Choudhury, was found guilty of seven food hygiene offence, including that of failing to implement effective pest control measures, keep equipment clean and comply with a Hygiene Improvement Notice and fined a total of £2,250 at Inverness Sheriff Court.

Alistair Thomson, the Council’s Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, said: “This food business was being operated in an unhygienic manner and the owner failed to carry out simple and effective pest control measures to minimise the risks to food safety. The poor standards in this restaurant could have had serious consequences to customers. The vast majority of food establishments in The Highlands operate to a high standard and serve their customers well. We have a duty to them and to the public to take effective action where others do not make the same effort.”