A rodent-infested café in London’s East End has been fined nearly £27,000 after mice chewed through food in the stockroom.
Inspectors for Tower Hamlets Council found a packet of Kit Kats and spaghetti had been gnawed by mice at Café Fresh in Whitechapel.
Photos show nibbled food as well as a hole in the wall surrounded by smear marks which inspectors believe was the work of mice.
The café, in Commercial Road, was closed by public health inspectors last October after contaminated foods were discovered.
Last week it was fined a total of £26,579.
The café was closed by environmental health on October 30 after they discovered a “severe mouse infestation” and contaminated foods.
Nearly two months later, returning inspectors found the owners, Fresh Frill Café, had not complied with food hygiene improvement notices – so charged them with 12 hygiene offences.
Director Mahbub Alam pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined £5,220. He was also ordered to pay some of the council’s legal costs and a £54 victim surcharge.
The café was also fined £12,000 and ordered to pay the rest of the legal costs to the sum of £2,685.15 with a £120 victim surcharge.
The full amount owed by the company is £18,805.15, the council said.
On a return to the café, inspectors found standards have improved “to a satisfactory condition”.
Councillor Shiria Khatun, deputy mayor and cabinet member for Community Safety, said: “We take breaches in hygiene regulations very seriously in Tower Hamlets, and will not hesitate to prosecute in such cases.
“I am glad to note that the café in question has now improved standards to a satisfactory condition.”
