Takeaway shuts after zero rating for hygiene

Gino’s Fast Food Takeaway, in Anlaby Road, Hull, was forced to shut after it was found to pose a “serious and imminent” risk to public health.

It is one of only a handful of outlets in the city to have received a zero rating since the “scores on the doors” system was introduced four years ago to give the public confidence in where they eat and buy food.

The failures were discovered during a routine inspection by environmental health officers.

Both the staff and customer toilets at Gino’s were described as “filthy” and ill-equipped, and there was a threat of food poisoning from refrigerated food, which was at risk of contamination.

Food handlers had no food hygiene training and inspectors also found a large amount of refuse had built up in the rear yard.

Coun John Hewitt, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and families, condemned the business for operating the way it had, but said it would be allowed to re-open once it had demonstrated acceptable standards of hygiene.

He said: “The fact that the premises and equipment were dirty throughout, that there were food contamination issues, and the staff had little or no knowledge of how to run a food business safely, posed a serious and imminent risk to public health.

“These conditions left council officers with little option other than to immediately close the business and apply to magistrates for a hygiene emergency prohibition order.

“However, the environmental health team will be available to work closely with the business to help them resolve the problems. Once we are satisfied there is no longer any risk to public health the business will be allowed to re-open.”

Next year all local authorities will adopt the Food Standards Agency’s new food hygiene ratings system.