Sandwell Council environmental health staff have welcomed a £5,000-plus court bill for a local confectionery company and its owner after inspectors found poor standards of cleanliness.
Officers visited the premises of Beacon West Bromwich Ltd in June 2018 and found filthy hand washing facilities, and the area around the sweet-packing area was dirty and in poor repair.
The company, which traded as wholesale suppliers of confectionery, faced seven charges at Wolverhampton Crown Court and was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,699 and a £100 victim surcharge.
The company owner Christopher Mills was given a £160 fine with a £30 victim surcharge and £1,000 towards costs, making an overall total court bill of £5,489. The company and Mr Mills pleaded guilty.
The charges included failure to keep premises clean and in good repair, to have a wash hand basin and soap available and to ensure staff wore suitable and clean protective clothing.
They were also charged with the failure to ensure proper storage of wrapping materials, to keep equipment in good order and to protect all stages of production from contamination, and failing to implement national food hygiene health standards.
Neil Cox, Sandwell Council’s director of prevention and protection, said: “There were a large number of failures at this premises, including the fact that staff white coats were dirty, frayed and one had a pin badge giving rise to the risk of contamination.
“We welcome the fines because it is a reminder to local companies that Sandwell environmental health staff are very keen to ensure that food premises are kept up to proper hygiene standards.
“If inspectors find that food companies are not keeping up to standards expected by law and by the public, the council will have no hesitation to take them to court.”
