Takeaway owner back in court as contaminated food leaves eight people sick

The former owner of Blakenall One Call Peri Peri, Muhammed Abdul Moueed Khan, is now facing jail for putting customers at risk.

It is the second time in six months Khan, of Walsall, has been in court charged with hygiene breaches.

Khan was previously jailed for six months for a catalogue of serious health and hygiene offences at Pizza Cottage in Caldmore Road.

He was back in court for selling pizzas and doner meat that contained salmonella bacteria from the takeaway in Blakenall Lane.

Khan pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court to six offences including the selling of food unfit for human consumption and failing to have proper safety measures and food management systems in place to prevent the contamination of high risk food.

Other offences included failing to meet correct temperature control requirements for the cooking and storage of donner meat and failure to clean and disinfect a donner kebab cutter and kitchen utensils appropriately, leading to contamination.

Walsall Council Environmental Health Officers visited the shop in July last year after receiving complaints of food poisoning, the court heard.

They took food samples along with swabs from the shop’s donner kebab cutter, chopping board and an electric knife used for cutting poultry.

Harmful salmonella bacteria was present in all of the swabs and the strain of bacteria matched patient and hospital samples.

A Walsall council spokesman said around that time, Public Health England notified bosses of a patient that was being treated at Walsall Manor Hospital for suspected food poisoning. Other people had also fallen ill after eating food from the takeaway.

Earlier this year, Khan was jailed after a catalogue of offences at his former business Pizza Cottage, including ignoring a mice infestation.

Councillor Garry Perry, portfolio holder for public protection at Walsall Council said: “We are pleased the court has supported this prosecution which has now been referred to a crown court for sentencing.

"These breaches had serious consequences and demonstrated a flagrant disregard for the even the most minimum standards of safety. Environmental Health regulations are in place to protect the public.

"We always work with businesses to help them understand their responsibilities, but we will also pursue them through the courts if they fail to take these important responsibilities seriously.

"Mr Khan knew exactly what was required of him as a food business operator.

“Residents are reminded that they should always check the Food Hygiene Ratings of the businesses where they buy food to ensure as far as possible the business is being well run.”

The case was adjourned and Khan is next scheduled to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on October 11.