Member Article

Cockroach infestation leads Redcar Council to execute emergency closure powers over take-away

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has shut down Redcar takeaway Raphael Pizzeria, after food safety officers from the council’s environmental health (commercial) team discovered serious health risk conditions.

Officers discovered the conditions during a food hygiene inspection of Raphael Pizzeria, 49 Station Road, Redcar, TS10 1DT on Tuesday (January 26th) night.

Using emergency closure powers under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, officers formally closed the takeaway to protect public health that same night.

On Thursday, January 28th 2016 the council was granted a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order by Teesside Magistrates’ Court to keep the premises closed until the council is satisfied that the food business no longer presents a serious health risk.

The officers were carrying out an inspection that resulted in the closure of the premises due to very poor standards of cleanliness, foods at risk of contamination, evidence of a widespread established cockroach infestation and other serious breaches of hygiene legislation.

The owner of the food business will be able to apply for the court order to be lifted once the premises have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, measures have been taken to eliminate the cockroach infestation and food can be prepared safely. However, the takeaway will not be allowed to re-open until it has been inspected by food safety officers and they are satisfied that it can be operated hygienically.

Councillor Lynn Pallister, cabinet member for health and housing said: “Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council will always act quickly to close unsafe premises like these where the health of our residents is at risk.

“Any establishments operating unhygienic businesses in the borough will be dealt with effectively.”

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