A Stevenage shopkeeper has been fined for food hygiene offences following an environmental health investigation mounted by Stevenage Borough Council.
Ms Anna Piaseczna Zyla, of Krushynka, a specialist Polish food shop in Stevenage town centre, pleaded guilty to two counts of storing high risk foods above 8ºC when she appeared at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Monday 16 July.
Stevenage Borough Council’s environmental health officers visited the shop on three separate occasions throughout June to find herring fillets and processed cheese with ham stored between 17ºC and 14ºC.
“Storing food at these at dangerously high temperatures can lead to the development of pathogenic bacteria such as E. Coli, Campylobacter and Salmonella – all of which present very serious health risks,” said Councillor Richard Henry, Executive member for Safer and Stronger Communities.
“We hope that this prosecution will highlight the importance of temperature control to other local businesses to ensure that the produce they’re selling is not putting shoppers at risk.”
Ms Piaseczna Zyla was fined £300 and ordered to pay £100 in court costs plus a £15 victim surcharge.
For more information about environmental health, visit stevenage.gov.uk or contact the council’s environmental health team on envhealth@stevenage.gov.uk or 01438 242908.
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The information contained in this press release was correct on the date of issue.