‘Mouldy and foul smelling’ food found in dirty restaurant as it is hit with zero hygiene rating for THIRD time

The owner of a restaurant handed a ‘zero’ food hygiene rating says she has dealt with issues raised by a council inspector.

Calderdale Council wrote to Pajaree’s, a Thai restaurant in Broad Street, Halifax, following an inspection in November that led to a zero food hygiene rating, the lowest score on a scale of five.

In a letter, the council informed the restaurant owner that the premises had now “scored zero in at least three of your previous inspections.”

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The letter contained a list of ‘contraventions’ which included the discovery of several foods that were past their recommended storage times or were mouldy and had a ‘foul smell’. These foods were limes, leek, peaches and coconut milk. The letter and report were released following a Freedom of Information request to the council.

The letter, sent in November, said some of the contraventions were ‘repeat’ issues. The letter highlighted:

• ‘Little evidence’ for the introduction of a Food Safety Management System (FSMS).
• ‘Inadequate’ food hygiene awareness.
• Dirty floor coverings.
• Dirty and greasy door seals on a fridge.
• Sealant behind a sink mouldy, dirty and greasy.
• Standard of cleaning in the kitchen ‘generally poor’.
• Chopping board was not clean.
• Dirty wall coverings in the kitchen.
• Too much clutter in the kitchen making cleaning difficult.
• Equipment not clean, including worktops, sink, deep fryer and cooker.

The letter stated: “Your food hygiene rating based on this visit is a zero. You have now scored zero in at least three of your previous inspections.”

It later added: “It was apparent during my inspection that your level of food hygiene awareness was inadequate. You must ensure that you are appropriately trained in food hygiene matters as necessary.”