SOLIHULL takeaway, Papi’s Pizza Ltd has been fined and ordered to pay costs totalling £2,100 by Birmingham Magistrates Court for advertising a false food hygiene rating.
The Lyndon Road-based pizza takeaway business which is owned by Qaisar Matloob displayed a food hygiene rating sticker of five, the highest possible rating meaning ‘very good’.
However it had never been registered as a food business with Solihull Council or had an inspection from its food officers.
Matloob was also been found guilty of distributing 1,200 leaflets displaying the fictitious food hygiene rating score prior to the shop’s opening on August 9, 2019.
As a result of the fake claims, on October 5, Matloob was fined £150 with £150 costs and Papi’s Pizza Ltd were fined £1,500 with £150 costs and £150 victim surcharge.
Ranging from zero (urgent improvement required) to five (very good), the rating scheme reflects the standard of food hygiene found on the date of inspection by a local authority.
Alison Rolf, cabinet portfolio holder for stronger and safer communities, said: “The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is well recognised by the public and many people use the rating scores to choose where to eat.
“Mr Matloob’s actions could have seriously undermined the credibility and integrity of the scheme.
“Solihull Trading Standards will continue to monitor the activity of traders in Solihull and will act robustly when the law is broken.”
