A popular Isle of Wight Indian restaurant — rated the best on the Island according to Tripadvisor — has been slapped with a zero food hygiene rating.
The conditions were so bad at the House of Spice in Shanklin that Isle of Wight council officers said urgent action was needed to clean the kitchen and gave the restaurant five days to deep clean it.
Threat of formal enforcement action
The owners were warned should similar issues be identified at future inspections, the council would have no option but to consider formal enforcement action.
Inspectors found dirt and grease in multiple areas, remarking the general standard of hygiene at the restaurant, on the High Street, was unsatisfactory.
Findings
They found:
- protective clothing worn by staff was dirty and could transfer bacteria to food;
- plastic in the rice container, which was dirty;
- dirty food storage containers in the fridge with debris on the lids and sides, some of which were damaged;
- dirty containers around the kitchen shelves with old food around it;
- the plastic poppadom container was dirty and greasy and some poppadoms had to be disposed of;
- various plastic chopping boards were worn to the extent they were pitted and scored, inspectors also saw them used for incorrect food items;
- the food mixer had been cleaned but was still dirty at the bottom and was being stored on the dirty kitchen floor;
- some uncovered food in the fridge;
- a build-up of dirt and grease in the extraction filters;
- pan lids were encrusted with old food;
- the top, side, underneath and hand contact surfaces of the oven were dirty and encrusted with food debris;
- the floor underneath and to the side of the fridges and freezers was dirty;
- the sides of the walkways, especially on entry and exit areas, were dirty with a buildup of black dirt;
- hanging wires were dirty and greasy;
- dirty tea towels stored in the kitchen;
- deep fat fryer was dirty;
- hand contact surfaces of plugs had a buildup of dirt;
- boxes used for storing container lids were covered in grease and old food debris;
- the ceiling of the vegetable store was dirty and greasy;
- antibacterial spray bottles were dirty and greasy.
Temperature of foods
Questions were raised about whether the appropriate temperature monitoring of food was happening as inspectors were informed food was checked in degrees centigrade but were shown a temperature probe set to Fahrenheit.
The member of staff was unable to show the correct temperature comparison between the two units of how to change the settings on the probe.
Some high-risk foods, like cheese, were being stored at 9.7 degrees C when it should be 8 or below.
Contamination of raw meat
They also saw open guttering taking rainwater from the roof and along a corridor where the raw meat preparation table was, which dripped during the inspection, posing a contamination risk.
Despite specific freezers for raw meat and also for vegetables, inspectors found potatoes next to an open bag of raw meat. They were told it was an error and it was removed.
Inspectors found no allergen information was available and there was no system of stock rotation or control in place.
The House of Spice has been contacted for comment.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
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