the Save On on Green Lane
A convenience store owner whose business was so infested with mice that faeces and urine could be clearly seen amongst the sweets in a pick and mix stand, has appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court.
Ghulam Mustafa Naz (50) of Mansel Road, Small Heath, pleaded guilty to 3 food hygiene offences; 2 relating to the insanitary condition of Save On Mini Market, 302-304 Green Lane, Small Heath, Birmingham, where mouse droppings were found throughout the premises and 1 offence of mouse droppings being found in boxes containing ready-to-eat sweets.
He received a fine of £5,900 (£5000 plus costs).
Environmental Health Officers from Birmingham City Council visited the Save On for a routine inspection on 18th August 2009.
shelves of pick and mix sweets at the Save On
Officers could clearly see evidence of rodent activity on the premises, including sticky boards being used to trap mice and rodenticide powder on the floor.
Paper bags had been used to line sweet shelves, and Officers could clearly see faeces and urine staining the bags. Officers also found gnawed sweet packets and faeces in boxes of pick and mix sweets.
mouse droppings on paper bags used to line shelves
When questioned, Mr Naz admitted that he was aware of an infestation after finding gnawed packets of crisps, and had called in a friend to treat the problem with rodenticide and sticky boards.
Councillor Neil Eustace, Chair of the Public Protection Committee at Birmingham City Council, says:
“While we accept that Mr Naz acted more in ignorance than in malice, and had made some effort to address the infestation, the measures that he took were clearly inadequate.
“I think most parents would be horrified to think that their children could be scooping mice faeces into their bags of pick and mix.
mouse droppings found in a box of pick and mix sweets
“They should however be reassured that we take swift action in cases such as these, where children could be exposed to serious health risks like salmonella and listeria”.
ENDS
For more information please contact Hayley Meachin on 0121 303 1271/ 07920 750007 hayley.meachin@birmingham.gov.uk
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