Swindon Borough Council’s Environmental Health team has enforced the closure of a town centre butcher shop, Kenya Halal Butchers, situated at 26 Bridge Street, after a significant rat infestation was uncovered during a routine food hygiene inspection.
Magistrates, upon reviewing evidence from the inspection presented last Friday, imposed a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order on the butchers after council officers witnessed an inadequate standard of cleanliness throughout the store.
Further investigation unveiled evidence indicating that rats had been climbing over the food counters, leaving behind gnawed nut shells among food packaging. Gnawed bags of food, sellotaped packaging, and copious rat droppings were also discovered, indicating widespread contamination.
Nesting material sourced from various items around the shop, including insulation material, shopping bags, and food items, was found. Particularly concerning was the discovery of a rat nest made from black eye beans within the meat counter, emitting a foul smell of urine.
The chaotic state of the premises, coupled with unhygienic storage practices such as raw meat being placed directly on filthy surfaces, raised significant health concerns with the Council promptly issuing a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition notice, formally closing the business.
Owned by Kenya Butchers Swindon Limited, the business opted not to attend court. Consequently, an emergency prohibition order was granted, allowing the Council to keep the shop closed until safety standards are met. The owners must liaise with the Council to ensure risks to human health are mitigated before reopening.
Councillor Jim Grant, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Joint Working and Communities, said: “The conditions found in this business were shocking as you can see from the pictures our food hygiene officers took.
“Cases like this are rare but, when they do occur, our officers will take action straight away to protect the health and safety of the public.
“Food business owners have a duty to ensure they are adhering to food hygiene requirements and they must make sure they have adequate pest control checks in place so situations do not get out of control like they did in this instance.
“We inspect hundreds of food businesses each year and most are doing a great job. If you want to check the rating of a food business in Swindon you can visit the Food Standards Agency website for the latest food hygiene score awarded by our team.”
