Fishguard restaurant owner fined

A Fishguard restaurant owner has been fined for not displaying a food hygiene rating.

Mr Mohammed Abdul Kalam of the Taj Mahal Restaurant, 22 High Street, Fishguard failed to display a food hygiene rating of 1 which was issued following an inspection from by an officer from the Council’s Public Protection Division on the 16th December 2015.

All food businesses that receive a food hygiene rating are under a legal duty to display their food hygiene rating and must display it at all entrances used by the public so it is easily read by customers.

Mr Kalam pleaded guilty to the offence and was fined £250 plus £250 costs and ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £25.

This was the first prosecution brought by the Authority’s since the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013 came into force, being initiated after Mr Kalam failed to pay a fixed penalty notice issued by the Authority for the breach.

After the hearing, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, Councillor Huw George, said:

“It is vital that the Authority enforces the requirements of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

“Food businesses must display their valid food hygiene rating in order to enable consumers to make informed choices and to safeguard health.

“The scheme is also protecting the commercial advantage of compliant premises that work hard to achieve good food hygiene ratings.”