A shopkeeper in Dudley has been ordered to pay more than £2,500 by a court after an inspection uncovered a string of health and hygiene failings.

Dudley Council environmental health officers found ready to eat coriander being stored directly below a hanging carcass of meat when they visited Zayd Mini Market in St Johns Road, Kates Hill. The officers were carrying out a routine inspection at the premises in September last year.

Owner Zayd Younas, 22, pleaded guilty to seven offences under food hygiene and safety regulations at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on October 5th. They included failing to keep the food premises clean and in good repair and condition, refuse stores not kept in good order and failing to fly proof an external door.

Younas also admitted to having no food hygiene training and failing to comply with two improvement notices requiring repairs to walls and a ceiling.

The court also heard of the coriander being stored directly below the meat, exposing it to an unacceptable risk of contamination to which Younas also pleaded guilty.

Younas was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay costs of £1,068, as well as a victim surcharge of £30. Councillor Peter Miller, cabinet member responsible for health and wellbeing, said:

“The conditions found at this premises were most unsatisfactory, which led to the prosecution. We much prefer to work with businesses to secure compliance with the law, but we will not hesitate to take legal action against the minority of food businesses proprietors who fail to meet their legal responsibilities and put the health of the public at risk.

“Over half of all food outlets in the borough are achieving the top hygiene rating of five and the vast majority achieve a satisfactory rating of three or more. I would urge consumers to check out hygiene ratings online as these will give consumers a glimpse of what is going on in the kitchen when they eat out, or behind the scenes at the places they shop.”

Dudley Council environmental health officers carry out regular inspections of food premises in the borough to advise food business owners and ensure they meet all food safety and hygiene requirements.