Bakery prosecuted over hygiene and food standards
A bakery and its owner have been prosecuted for offences including uncontrolled pest activity and incorrect nutritional claims.
Islington Council inspectors found a series of issues at Romeo's Sugar Free Bakery, 178 Upper Street, N1 when they inspected on 6 July 2015. These included evidence of mouse droppings and a poor standard of cleaning.
Investigations also revealed that the bakery was making incorrect nutritional claims that their products were sugar-free, when in fact they were sweetened with sugar from fruit. The bakery was also using a sweetener that is not permitted in baked goods.
On 8 September 2016 at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court, Islington Sugar Free Bakery Ltd and its owner Romeo Dallh both admitted seven charges - four food hygiene offences, one failure to comply with a hygiene improvement notice and two food standards offences relating to the incorrect nutritional claims and the food additive.
The fines and cost for each defendant was £4043.75, with total fines and costs of £8087.50. The bakery has agreed to work with council officers to rectify all of the issues.
Cllr Andy Hull, Islington Council's executive member for finance, performance and community safety, said: "Our residents and visitors expect and deserve good standards from food businesses in Islington.
"We offer businesses help and advice on food hygiene and standards issues and will help businesses address issues. However when serious problems are found and standards are not met, as in this case, we will take action."
Islington businesses who want help and support over food hygiene or food standards issues should contact the Commercial Environmental Health Team on 0207 527 3816.
Notes to editors
Summary of offences that were admitted:
1. Uncontrolled pest activity
2. Poor standard of cleaning
3. Poor structural repair
4. Inadequate food safety procedures
5. Failure to comply with a hygiene improvement notice
6. Unpermitted use of an additive (a sweetener called stevia that is not permitted in baked goods)
7. Incorrect nutritional claims where they were claiming their products were sugar free but in fact were sweetened with sugar from fruit.
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