Restaurant fined for food hygiene failures

A food premises where safety failings were identified has been ordered to pay a total £7,702.67 by York Magistrates Court on 27 October 2023.

City of York Council Environmental Health Officers visited Athithi, of 26 Fishergate, York, four times between August 2022 and August 2023, during which breaches of food safety and hygiene regulations were recorded.

On the fourth visit by officers, the business was found not to have addressed the issues and City of York Council prosecuted Masala Craft Ltd, York which owns the restaurant. The four offences filed were; the food premises had not been kept clean; food equipment was not kept clean, the kitchen was in a poor state of repair and there was a longstanding failure to manage food safety within the business.

Amar Singh Rajput, director of Masala Craft Ltd pleaded guilty to all charges at York Magistrates Court. The Magistrates ordered him to pay a £7,702.67 in fines and costs.

Cllr Kate Ravilious, Joint Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency at City of York Council, said:

“York offers many very good food premises and we want customers from the city and beyond to be confident in the quality of all the restaurants and takeaways they visit. Thanks to our food hygiene team’s vigilance, these issues have been identified and customers protected.

“We give advice which, if not complied with, can lead to legal action. We welcome customers reporting concerns to public.protection@york.gov.uk.”

Advice on food hygiene is available at www.york.gov.uk/FoodSafetyStandards or, any businesses wanting tailored advice and guidance, are welcome to call us on (01904) 551525.