Hygiene inspectors force closure of mouse-infested Westcliff Takeaway

June 27, 2017 by Southend Borough Council

Environmental health officers have forced the closure of a mouse-infested takeaway in Westcliff to protect diners from contracting potentially fatal diseases.

During a routine inspection of Jerk Kitchen UK on Milton Road on Tuesday 20 June, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s environmental health officers discovered mouse droppings on food preparation surfaces and kitchen equipment along with heavily gnawed food packaging.

Because of the risk posed to public health – which includes the spread of potentially fatal diseases – the officers immediately ordered the restaurant to close by issuing a formal Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice. This was then ratified by a Court Order from Southend Magistrates’ Court, which was officially served upon the restaurant on the morning of Thursday 22 June.

Under the court order, the owner of the business must keep the premises closed until such a point that environmental health officers are satisfied that the risk to human health has been removed. Breaching the order can result in a custodial sentence.

Cllr Tony Cox, Executive Councillor for Transport, Waste & Regulatory Services, welcomed the swift and decisive action. He said: “This highly unpleasant case demonstrates the hugely important work our small team of environmental health officers do every day to protect the public from disease and sickness.

“We can only ponder how many people may have fallen sick had contaminated food entered the food chain.

“Thanks to the regular inspections and close relationship our environmental health officers build with local food businesses, cases like this are very much the exception rather than the norm.

“I would like to thank the officers for their diligence in bringing forward such swift and decisive action.”

The food hygiene ratings of all Southend food premises can be viewed online at http://ratings.food.gov.uk/

Risks of rodent droppings entering the food chain

Rodents, such as mice and rats, can leave droppings that can spread bacteria, contaminate food, and cause allergic reactions. Droppings can also spread diseases and viruses such as the following:

· Hantavirus – a potentially life-threatening disease transmitted to humans by rodents. People become infected through exposure or inhalation of infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva, and the chances increase when people are near spaces where rodents are actively living.

· Salmonellosis – Salmonellosis is a type of food poisoning spread by rodent faeces, especially through the consumption of contaminated food. Symptoms include diarrhoea, fever and abdominal pain.

· Rat-Bite Fever – a potentially fatal infectious disease spread by infected rodents or the consumption of food contaminated by rodents.