The owners of a Coseley food business have landed a court bill of more than £2,500 after their shop was found to be infested with mice.

Abjinder and Baljit Kaur Purewal failed to keep their A&B News Convenience and Off Licence clean and in good repair and had been selling unsafe food.

Dudley Council’s environmental health officers visited the premises in January this year after receiving a complaint. They discovered a mouse infestation and the premises was closed for seven days while the problem was dealt with.

The offences included failing to keep food premises clean and in good repair, failing to protect food at risk of contamination and placing unsafe food for sale. Adequate procedures were not in place to control pests and food handlers were not adequately trained.

The couple appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on November 16 and pleaded guilty to five offences. The court fined the couple £560 each along with £638 costs each plus a £56 victim surcharge. Councillor Peter Miller, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said:

“The public have a right to expect that the shops where they buy their food do not put their health at risk. A pest infestation in a food business can pose a serious risk to health and it was therefore necessary to prevent this business operating while remedial works were undertaken.

“Over half of all food outlets in the borough are achieving the top hygiene rating of five and the vast majority achieve a satisfactory rating of three or more. I would urge consumers to check out hygiene ratings online as these will give consumers a glimpse of what is going on in the kitchen when they eat out, or behind the scenes at the places they shop.”

Dudley Council’s environmental health officers carry out regular inspections of food premises in the borough to advise food business owners and ensure they meet all food safety and hygiene requirements. Ratings in Dudley can be viewed online at dudley.gov.uk/foodsafety.