MAGISTRATES have been dishing out tough penalties after Dudley food inspectors found failings at premises in Stourbridge and Kingswinford.

Tropical Balti Ltd pleaded guilty to six offences at its restaurant Tropical Balti in Stourbridge High Street after an inspection by food safety officers from Dudley Council in February 2016.

The offences included failing to implement an adequate food safety management system, failing to keep the premises and equipment clean and in good repair and condition, failing to protect food from contamination and failing to ensure food handlers wore clean protective over clothing – resulting in a hygiene rating of zero.

Tropical Balti Ltd’s owners were fined £5,000, ordered to pay Dudley Council costs of £1,250 and a victim surcharge of £170 at a hearing at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on January 19.

In a separate case - Nasar Hussain, former owner of Prego Pizza takeaway in Kingswinford, pleaded guilty to 11 offences including failing to implement an adequate food safety management system, failing to keep the food premises and equipment clean and in good order and repair and failing to protect food from a risk of contamination.

The court heard that when food safety officers inspected the takeaway in Kingswinford High Street in July 2015 they also found food being stored in the toilet lobby, the hand wash basin in the kitchen was not available for hand washing and changing facilities for food handlers were inadequate.

A hygiene rating of one out of five was given – and Hussain, who was the owner of the business at the time of the inspection, was fined £1,600 and ordered to pay costs of £1,249.60 and a victim surcharge of £160.

Dudley Council says he has, however, since left the business and it is now run by a different proprietor.

Councillor Rachel Harris, Dudley’s cabinet member responsible for health, said: “We are tough on food hygiene and safety and will not hesitate to take legal action against the minority of food businesses that fail to meet their legal responsibilities.

“I want to assure the public that the vast majority of food businesses in Dudley borough are compliant with the law with nearly half of all food outlets in the borough achieving the top hygiene rating of five and the vast majority achieving a satisfactory rating of three or more.

“We work with businesses to advise and assist them in meeting food safety and hygiene requirements but have a zero tolerance of low food hygiene ratings.”

She added: “People can check out hygiene ratings online, giving them a glimpse of what is going on in the kitchen when they eat out, or behind the scenes at the places they shop for food.”

To view food hygiene ratings in Dudley check out www.dudley.gov.uk/foodsafety or at www.food.gov.uk/ratings.

Businesses can also get help and advice about complying with the law from the council’s website at www.dudley.gov.uk