A steakhouse has been fined £50,000 after repeatedly serving food on trendy wooden boards ‘that were incapable of being cleaned’.
Ibrahim’s Grill and Steak House, in Acocks Green, Birmingham, continued to serve up dishes on the wooden platters despite being served an improvement notice about their use.
Pictures released by Birmingham City Council show several of the boards found at the restaurant covered in charcoal black and pink stains.
The restaurant was first visited by Environmental Health officers in October 2016 after a party of 14 was struck down with food poisoning following a meal.
They highlighted concerns about the wooden plates, which could not be cleaned, along with poor hygiene and an over-reliance by employees on disposable gloves rather than hand washing.
Pictures released by Birmingham City Council show several of the boards found at the restaurant covered in charcoal black and pink stains
Ibrahim’s Grill and Steak House, in Acocks Green, Birmingham, continued to serve up dishes on the wooden platters despite being served an improvement notice about their use
Sanitising chemicals were also not being used as recommended by the manufacturer.
On a return visited in December 2016, officers noted food handling had improved but that the wooden boards were still being used.
The company entered a guilty plea at Birmingham Magistrates Court on January 4 and was ordered to pay a £50,000 fine along with £670 costs and £120 victim surcharge.
Birmingham City Council tweeted: ‘An Acocks Green restaurant that kept using wooden plates to serve food on has been fined £50k by Bham Magistrates court after a case brought by the city council.
‘Ibrahim’s Grill and Steak House Ltd of 1159 Warwick Rd was first visited by @ehbham in October 2016 after an alleged food poisoning outbreak affecting a party of 14.
‘A number of issues of concern were found, including a high level reliance being placed on the use of disposable gloves, rather than the washing of hands.
Inspectors highlighted concerns about the wooden plates, which could not be cleaned
‘The cleaning of the premises was poor and sanitising chemicals were not being used in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
‘And wooden plates which were incapable of being cleaned were being used to serve the food.
‘Officers served improvement notices requiring a remedy to the issues – and on a return visit in December 2016 it was found that whilst food handling had improved, the wooden plates were still being used.
‘Wooden plates could pose a risk of food poisoning to anyone eating from them.
‘At Bham Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Jan 4th) the company entered a guilty plea – and a fine of £50,000 was imposed along with £670 costs and £120 victim surcharge.
Mark Croxford, Head of Environmental Health at Birmingham City Council, said ‘It is completely unacceptable for businesses to put the health of people eating at their restaurants at risk.
‘The owners were given sound advice which they chose to ignore. I am pleased magistrates supported our efforts with a large fine and hope advice we give on improving businesses to protect health will not be ignored in future.’