Sheffield takeaway owner fined £8,067 for food hygiene breaches

Nico Cebani, who runs Chatanoga in Holme Lane, Hillsborough, admitted ignoring five legal notices to do with his business when he appeared at Sheffield Magistrates Court on November 15.

The takeaway, which serves pizzas, burgers and kebabs, was given a one-star food hygiene rating - the second worst on the 0 to 5 scale - by environmental health officers in July 2015.

Cebani was advised how he could improve several times, and was served with eight food hygiene improvement notices in March this year. Among the offences were a lack of a written food safety management system, various items of disrepair and unfinished structural and pest-proofing works.

Despite a request for a time extension to be granted, five out of the eight notices had still not been complied with after the expiry date. Cebani also refused to attend an interview at council offices.

Cebani was fined £8,067 for the breaches.

Sheffield Council's cabinet advisor for the environment Tony Downing said: “These were serious issues and not having a food safety management system could have led to a food poisoning outbreak.

“Despite our ongoing efforts to provide support to Mr Cebani, he failed to act which meant we had no choice but to prosecute.

“We hope this sends a clear message to other food outlets that we take our responsibilities to protect people’s health seriously.”

Chartered environmental health officer David Fenn added: “We try our hardest to work with food businesses to provide advice and support on how to comply with food hygiene regulations and avoid legal action.

“This is both to protect public health and to help businesses gain a good food hygiene rating.

“However, sometimes business owners repeatedly fail to take note of this advice and we are forced to take enforcement action.

“Businesses should note that serious or repeated failures to comply with environmental health officers’ requests and legal notices can and will result in prosecution proceedings being taken by the council.”

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