Council shuts down Korean restaurant after catastrophic food safety failings

28 February 2017

A local Korean restaurant has been closed down by Southwark Council’s food safety team after a routine inspection found a catalogue of poor hygiene standards and food safety concerns.  Council officers were forced to take the unusual step due to the high risk to public health.

Food safety enforcement officers visited CheeMc, the Walworth Road eatery well known for its fried chicken, on 23 February after a planned inspection. Officers had previously visited the premises in September 2016 and issued strong verbal and written warnings to the owner with regard to the poor standards of safety and hygiene.

During the latest inspection officers uncovered evidence of a significant rat problem in the kitchen with rat droppings found on worktop surfaces, on a storage shelf containing dry goods, beneath the refrigerator and the floors. Officers also found contaminated food and filthy kitchen essentials.  The dire condition of the premises posed an imminent risk to public health and  the restaurant was shut down using Hygiene Emergency Prohibition procedures.

The restaurant will remain closed, with all food handling, preparation or sale of food activities prohibited, until permission is granted by the council. Officers will be monitoring the progress with improvements on the premises and further formal enforcement action may be taken against the food business operator.    

A public notice has been fixed to door of the restaurant to inform local residents of the prohibition and will remain in place until the premises is reopened.

Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for communities and safety, said: “It is extremely rare that we decide to close down a food business but CheeMc posed too great of a public health risk to be allowed to stay open. Whilst most local food businesses are safe and enjoyable places to eat, thanks in part to our proactive food safety team, CheeMc flouted their responsibilities and will be held to account. The restaurant will only be allowed to reopen once we’re satisfied that necessary steps have been taken to improve matters.”

The council has applied for a court order that has been successfully upheld by Camberwell Magistrates Courts today.

Page last updated: 28 February 2017

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