Mouse infested takeaway that put public health at risk fined by Gloucester City Council

Lili Wang, manager of Good Wok on Bristol Road was fined £2,120 at Cheltenham Magistrates Court and the company that owned the business (Good Wok Mings Ltd ) was fined £14,918, with both amounts including victim surcharge and costs.

Forty-four-year-old Wang, pleaded guilty on behalf of herself and the business to seven charges, including failing to put adequate procedures in place to control pests, failing to keep the premises clean and in good repair, not following good food hygiene practices and the incorrect storage of raw and ready to eat food. 

The prosecution was brought by Gloucester City Council after Environmental Health Officers ordered the closure of the takeaway in March last year.

On visiting the takeaway they found a live mouse inside a food container, food storage bags that had been nibbled, utensils stored next to mice droppings and traps with dead mice still in them.

The kitchen where the food was made was dirty and Wang who lived above the premises was not following basic food hygiene practices.

Cllr Sebastian Field, cabinet member for Environment at Gloucester City Council, said: “This is one of the worst cases our inspectors have dealt with and showed a blatant disregard for the safety of customers. Mice can spread disease and viruses that in the worst-case scenario can kill people. We will always go out of our way to help business owners to operate safely but in this case Ms Wang was simply not dealing with the issue and serving customers in filthy conditions that were frankly dangerous.”