Rats run over the feet of stunned health inspectors in filthy rodent infested kitchen of Chinese takeaway

A CHINESE takeaway was so dirty a dead rat fell on an officer’s foot as he inspected the kitchen.

Fortune’s was covered in rat droppings, kitchen equipment was caked with grease, and door frames had been gnawed at by rats when council workers visited in July last year.

The takeaway’s filthy kitchen in Wallsend, North Tyneside, was also found to have droppings in the cooking equipment.

Owner Ming Li pleaded guilty to four food safety and hygiene offences at a court case in North Tyneside.

Eleanor Reyland, prosecuting for North Tyneside Council, told how a standard inspection was carried out at the site on July 8, 2015.

She said: “The food safety officer became aware of rat activity at the rear of the kitchen and rear of the food preparation area.

“She made some observations of rat droppings and rodent damage to the structure of the property, and dirty equipment in the premises.

“The first charge relates to a failure to control pests. There were grease smears on the walls from rats tracking down behind the toilet door. There was uncontrolled used rodenticide strewn on the floor in various locations, and there was grease and food debris on floors, walls and equipment.”

The remaining charges involved the failure to keep the premises clean and in good condition.

During the inspection, officers found an accumulation of flour on the floor under the kitchen sink and around the flour bins.

There was also grease, dirt and dried food debris on wall surfaces, and under equipment including fridges and the wok range.

The takeaway had to be closed for a day so that a major clean-up could take place.

Ms Reyland said: “The premises reopened on July 10 after officers found that the cleaning had been completed and access points for rodents had been blocked.”

In October, Li, 43, of Wallsend, who is of previous good character, told the council he had been working in kitchens for 10 years and had started his own business four years ago.

He accepted the cleanliness of his takeaway was not up to standard and said the person in charge of cleaning had gone to China for three months.

The court was told that the takeaway was inspected again in February this year and remains subject to annual inspections as well as unplanned checks.

Li told the court he worked very hard, but the business did not make much money and there was “nothing much left after a week’s work, less than £100”.

He said: “We are making great efforts to change the situation now. I’ve hired a cleaner to clean the premises two hours a day.”

District Judge Bernard Begley imposed a fine of £1,000, a victim surcharge of £100 and court costs of £175.

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