Middlesbrough shop shut again due to ‘cockroach infestation’ concerns
Health concerns over a ‘cockroach infestation’ at a North Ormesby shop have seen it closed for the second time in a matter of weeks.
Following a Middlesbrough Council complaint, Authentic African Foods, located on Kings Road, has been slapped with a hygiene emergency prohibition order (HEPO).
The HEPO, dated Friday, September 11, was signed off by magistrate Heather Goodwill at Teesside Magistrates’ Court. It follows a complaint by a council environmental health officer, who argued that there was an imminent risk to health identified in relation to a “cockroach infestation”.
The order states: “Cockroach carcasses at all life cycle stages, as well as live cockroaches on sticky traps observed within store presenting a risk of contamination.”
The complainant made the application to the court for a HEPO under the provisions of regulation eight of the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013. The order states that the court was satisfied that a health risk condition was fulfilled and the premises was prohibited from being used for any food business.
The store suffered a similar fate back in July, when it was ordered to shut by Teesside Magistrates as a result of rat droppings, crawling cockroaches and other problems. At the time, the shop’s retail manager told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the level of cleaning had increased.
The LDRS has contacted the shop for further comment following the second closure.