AN ACOCKS Green restaurant has been fined £50,000 by Birmingham Magistrates for serving food on “unhygienic” wooden boards.
Birmingham City Council says the wooden plates, used by Ibrahim’s Grill and Steak House in Acocks Green, pose a risk of food poisoning.
The Warwick Road restaurant was visited by inspectors in October 2016 after an alleged food poisoning outbreak affecting a party of 14.
A number of issues of concern were found, including a high level reliance being placed on the use of disposable gloves, rather than the washing of hands.
The cleaning of the premises was poor and sanitising chemicals were not being used in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
And wooden plates which were incapable of being cleaned were being used to serve the food.
And though improvements were made, on a return visit two months later, they found the boards were still in use.
The company entered a guilty plea at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court and a fine of £50,000 was imposed along with £670 costs and £120 victim surcharge.
Mark Croxford, Head of Environmental Health at Birmingham City Council, said: “It is completely unacceptable for businesses to put the health of people eating at their restaurants at risk.
“The owners were given sound advice which they chose to ignore.
“I am pleased Magistrates supported our efforts with a large fine and hope advice we give on improving businesses to protect health will not be ignored in future.”
