KFC has been fined £100,000 for food hygiene offences relating to its restaurant in Pontypool.
An environmental health officer discovered staff at KFC in Pontypool could not wash their hands, clean surfaces or equipment as there was no hot water
Kentucky Fried Chicken Ltd pleaded guilty at Cwmbran Magistrates' Court to three charges against them.
The case concerned the restaurant and drive-through at Lower Mill Field, New Inn,Pontypool .
Fined £100,000
The company was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of more than £4,300 to Torfaen council , plus a victim surcharge.
The court heard that on May 19 last year a senior environmental health officer from the council visited the branch following a complaint.
It had been alleged that the premises had no hot water and there were a number of cleaning problems.
The officer found there was no hot water in the toilets or food preparation areas, meaning employees could not properly wash their hands.
The lack of hot water also meant that the premises and food equipment could not be cleaned.
It was established that the boiler had failed for 10 days before the visit, meaning that cleaning and disinfection had not been carried out.
There were also no disinfectants available to ensure food preparation surfaces and equipment was safe to use.
'Visibly dirty'
Torfaen council said the premises and equipment were found to be "visibly dirty and poorly maintained".
Following discussions with council officers, KFC chose to voluntarily and immediately close the premises until hot water was reinstated.
The premises re-opened the next day as a supply of hot water had been provided and standards of food hygiene had improved.
Due to the conditions found on the initial visit by officers, a food hygiene rating of a 0 - meaning urgent improvement necessary - was awarded.
In September 2015, the premises were re-inspected and received a food hygiene rating of 4 - meaning good.
'Basic food hygiene errors'
Torfaen’s executive member for public protection, Councillor Gwyneira Clark said the findings were "disappointing".
She said: "It’s disappointing that KFC could make such basic food hygiene errors and several warnings were issued prior to the officer's inspection in May.
"Hot water is a legal requirement for the effective washing of hands, equipment and surfaces.
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"Without hot water, detergents do not remove grease and dirt effectively and disinfection processes to remove food poisoning bacteria become less effective.
"However, we recognise that the restaurant have worked positively with our officers throughout their investigations to ensure high standards can be maintained at all times. New management and improved hygiene procedures has resulted in significant improvement."
'We took urgent action'
Janet Cox, head of health, safety and environment at KFC UK and Ireland, said: “Last year we were shocked and disappointed by what happened at our Pontypool restaurant.
"We completely accepted the findings of the May 2015 inspection and took urgent action, closing the restaurant and placing it under the review of our specialist operations team.
"Thanks to the measures taken and the new management in place, the restaurant was able to return to the high standards we expect.
"97% of our 890 restaurants in the UK have achieved a food hygiene score of four out of five or above, and we’re pleased to say that since September 2015, Pontypool has held a four star rating.”
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/fast-food-restaurant-fined-100000-11397729
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