Rodent droppings, maggots and a filthy kitchen were found at a bacon slicing factory in Melbourn that was supplying meat for sandwiches and salads.

Gerard Agnew, a former director of Farmgate Foods Limited, was prosecuted by South Cambridgeshire District Council and must pay more than £15,000 for breaching multiple food hygiene and safety standards.

Council enforcement officers were alerted by neighbours, who complained of a bad smell coming from the factory, which was only allowed to slice raw meat to be sold as bacon. But the officers discovered that meat was also being cooked, packaged and sold as ready-to-eat food for sandwiches and salads.

Inside, they found the factory in a shocking state. There were rodent droppings, maggots and kitchen items covered in grease, dirt and old food. Equipment was broken and dirty and the food preparation area was in a poor state of repair. Wires and a hanging strip light can be seen in pictures released by the council.

The business ceased operating immediately and food production approval was withdrawn straight away following the visit of the health and environmental services team in July 2018.

The food hygiene enforcement officers also found the correct paperwork was not filled out by the business.

Agnew appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court last Thursday (August 15) and admitted seven food safety breaches.

He was fined £7,000, and ordered to pay costs of £8,000 and a surcharge of £100.

Cllr Bill Handley, South Cambridgeshire District Council's lead cabinet member for environmental services and licensing, said: “I’ve seen photos taken by our food hygiene enforcement officers and they showed that these facilities were absolutely filthy.

“Companies that prepare and provide food products have a responsibility to do so in safe and hygienic conditions and, in this case, they clearly failed to do so.

“The food hygiene and safety standards, practices and procedures are enshrined in law and are there for very good reason and it is the company’s duty to make sure they are in place and that they abide by them.

“The council’s environmental health team keeps a close eye on what companies are doing and always act on concerns.

Gallery1

“I would emphasise that, in South Cambridgeshire, we are fortunate that more than three quarters of food businesses are achieving the highest food hygiene rating. We always work with businesses to help them to improve their food hygiene standards and a prosecution like this, which is always a last resort, is very unusual.

“However, we make no apologies for intervening and taking legal action and, if it’s necessary, we will do so again, especially if there’s a danger that someone could become ill. Anyone handling food should take note.”

The Cambridge Independent understands that Farmgate Foods has applied to operate once more to South Cambridgeshire District Council, which is considering the application.

Agnew, 66, resigned as a director of the business on June 24, 2019, according to Companies House.

Read more

South Cambridgeshire District Council: ‘We dumped rubbish...and not one person reported it’