Stockton store admits offenses after rats ‘gnaw’ hot dogs

Samy Ltd was accused of storing hot dogs that had been “gnawed and partially eaten by rodents” and of failing to keep the kitchen clean with proper pest control measures. The case was heard at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (September 12).

The firm’s London lawyers informed the court of their guilty pleas by letter. The pleas were recorded by the court and the verdict was adjourned to October 10.

There were three charges as an operator of Budgens in Premier Parade, Fairfield, Stockton. The first accused Samy of bringing unsafe food to market – two packages of “smoked hot dogs found in the back kitchen for food preparation that had been badly gnawed and partially eaten by rodents,” a violation of the 2004 food regulations.

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The company, based in Corporation Road in central Middlesbrough, also admitted two offenses of failing to comply with food safety and hygiene regulations dating back to 2013.

Here it was alleged that the company failed to put in place adequate pest control procedures, failed to protect against contamination, particularly pest control, and failed to keep the kitchen clean and in good condition. The charges brought by Stockton Council all date back to September 8 last year.

The indictment states: “Evidence of rodent activity was received in the kitchen where food was prepared, handled and stored, namely rat feces on the floor and behind appliances, rodent smears on the wall, and rodent-damaged supplies and packaging.”

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“The structure in the food preparation area was not kept clean and in good condition as there was rodent droppings on the floor of the premises.”

A fourth charge – failure to protect against contamination, particularly pest control, in a food preparation area, with two holes in the kitchen wall that allegedly allowed rodents to enter the kitchen – was dropped by prosecutors.

At an earlier hearing, then prosecutor Natalie Hodgson said: “We are bringing charges against Samy Ltd in relation to a dirty kitchen.”