An inspection of a local takeaway presented such a significant risk to public safety that the premises was immediately closed by the Borough Council’s Environmental Health Department using a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice.

On the 1 August 2006 two officers made a visit to the Marmaris Kebab Shop, situated on Regent Road, to undertake a full inspection following a complaint from a member of the public that they had been unwell, after buying a takeaway meal from the premises. On entering the premises the officers became extremely concerned at the conditions that they encountered. The entire premises, including walls, floors, ceilings, doors and, more worryingly, food contact surfaces, were found to be in an extremely unhygienic condition.

On inspection of the back of the premises, the officers found that the rear yard was flooded with foul sewage water and that this sewage water was seeping through the weather sill at the bottom of the door into the kitchen area.  Crates and other items had been placed in the sewage water to provide a stepping stone pathway through it, indicating that the conditions had been ongoing over some time.  Without having an effective drainage system in place toilets cannot be flushed, hands cannot be washed after going to the toilet and equipment cannot be cleaned, as doing so would have exacerbated the level of foul water in the rear yard.

James Windsor, Environmental Health Officer, commented: “While we cannot conclusively link the illness reported to us to the Marmaris Kebab Shop, the conditions that were encountered on the day of our inspection presented a significant public health risk and had the potential to make many people extremely unwell. The takeaway had continued to trade under conditions that showed a complete contempt for the welfare of their customers and Environmental Health will not hesitate to take robust action in such instances.”

Mr Mehmet Annak of 1A Suffolk Square, Norwich, pleaded guilty to seven food hygiene offences at Norwich Crown Court on Wednesday 19 December 2007 and was fined £1000 per offence, to run concurrently.

Kate Watts, Commercial Team Manager for Environmental Health welcomed the sentence issued by the Court and hoped that it sends a clear message to other food business operators that matters of food hygiene breaches are, quite rightly, viewed gravely by the Court system.  

For Further information please contact James Windsor 01493 846544 or Kate Watts, Commercial Team Manager on 01493 846547.