The Fortune House Chinese takeaway in Chessington Road, Ewell has been successfully prosecuted by Epsom & Ewell Borough Council for breaching food safety regulations. 

A food hygiene inspection re-visit to The Fortune House by the Council's Environmental Health Officers, found that hygiene conditions had not improved despite advice being given during a previous inspection and reassurance from the owner Mr Tsang that he would take action to comply. The same work surface in the kitchen was used to prepare both ready to eat foods and raw meat without adequate disinfection between uses. In addition, raw chicken placed in a container of water was left to defrost at the kitchen sink next to a bag of cooked rice. 

The owner Mr Simon Tsang pleaded guilty at South East Surrey Magistrates Court on Tuesday 13 January to committing three food safety offences relating to - the failure to put in place, implement and maintain a permanent food safety management system; failing to supervise, instruct and/or train food handlers in food hygiene matters and failing to take adequate steps to prevent cross-contamination of food. 

Mr Tsang was fined £1200 for breaching food safety regulations and ordered to pay £400 towards the Council's costs. 

Councillor Jean Steer, Chairman of the Social Committee commented “The level of the fine demonstrates the serious nature of the breaches and emphasises to all businesses the need for an effective food safety management system which needs to be properly communicated, understood and implemented by food handlers at all levels. 

"In premises such as The Fortune House, safe and hygienic handling and storage of raw meats and other foods is essential in preventing against the risk of food poisoning, especially that of e-coli O157 cross contamination. 

"The Council's Environmental Health Officers aim to work with local businesses to maintain and improve standards and offer advice to help them improve food safety and to comply with food safety regulations. However, when a business ignores the advice given to them and puts consumers at risk through their failure to meet accepted hygiene standards, the Council will not hesitate to step in to protect the public.” 

Under the Food Standards Agency's national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, The Fortune House Chinese takeaway is currently rated '0 - urgent improvement necessary'. The rating given to a business reflects the standards of food hygiene found on the date of inspection. 

The Council inspects all food businesses within the Borough and allocates a food hygiene rating, from 0, where urgent improvement is necessary, to 5 which is very good. The public can check these ratings before they purchase takeaway food or eat out on the Food Standards Agency's website http://ratings.food.gov.uk

Information from Epsom & Ewell BC