City café fined for poor hygiene and mice problems
Both the owner and operating company of Poppins Café were fined a combined total of £19,815 and ordered to pay costs of £3,408 after pleading guilty last week to six Food Safety offences in the City of London Magistrates' Court.
The case was taken after City of London Corporation Environmental Health Officers visited the café near Ludgate Circus in September 2016 following a routine hygiene inspection the week before.
Their investigations revealed that both an active mouse infestation and very poor hygiene conditions remained with no satisfactory attempts made to improve or control either despite clear warnings to do so.
Magistrates commented that the conditions were physically disgusting and that the general public should not be paying to eat food prepared in such conditions.
Jon Averns, the City of London Corporation's Port Health and Public Protection Director, said:
"The law requires food business operators like Poppins London Ltd and the owner, Mr Erdogan, to be proactive in dealing with pest control problems. We expect City food businesses to operate hygienically, and it is not acceptable for businesses to shirk their responsibilities. read more