Mice gnawed on food at restaurant

Published on Friday 31 July 2009 10:02

HEALTH inspectors ordered a Capital restaurant to shut down after finding an "out of control" rodent infestation and food – being used to prepare meals – that had been gnawed at by mice.

Walls at the Star Sea restaurant in Lady Lawson Street were said to have been coated in mould and sinks were leaking and backed up with foul-smelling water.

The city council was so concerned about the potential threat to public health that it issued an emergency prohibition notice to stop the restaurant trading.

It was enforced against the man named as food operator at the premises, Tony Dong, following the spot check last month.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, a sheriff said the council had acted appropriately in having the premises closed on 6 June.

The restaurant had since been allowed to re-open, on 19 June, but was now being closely monitored by health officials.

A council statement said: "This inspection uncovered evidence of a mouse infestation which was completely out of control and food being used to prepare meals which had been clearly gnawed by the rodents.

"The hand-washing facilities were inadequate, sinks were leaking and backing up with foul smelling water and several areas of wall were coated in mould."

Speaking from his restaurant, Mr Dong said he accepted completely why the council had to act, blaming a lack of fans for the mould in the windowless kitchen and poor cleaning from staff at the time for a build-up of mice droppings on the floor.

He said they had worked hard to put things right ever since. He said: "Things are much better now. We spoke to all the staff about cleaning and it is done every day now.

"It wasn't done properly before, but we spoke to all the staff and it's so much better now.

"We had a mice problem too, but the man from the pest control came and that has been sorted. We are speaking to the council.

"Business is good and we have no complaints from customers."

Yesterday's court action was to ensure that the council had acted properly and would not be subject to any claim for compensation for closing down the eaterie.

Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city's environment leader, said it was important that restaurant bosses knew the council would act when necessary.

He added: "Residents and visitors to Edinburgh are entitled to expect the highest standards of food hygiene when they eat in the city and it's important for them to have confidence that they can eat out safely.

"Thanks to the vigilance and hard work shown by our Community Safety staff in bringing about this emergency notice, we can send out a clear message to all food business operators that they must adhere to food hygiene requirements or face the consequences."