AN Oldham takeaway has been fined after environmental health officers found evidence of mice on work surfaces and rats in the rear yard.

A routine food hygiene inspection at The Godfather Fried Chicken and Pizza Ltd, in Union Street, in April last year found evidence of mice throughout the premises and rats outside and dirty chopping boards.

They also discovered a hand wash basin was upside down and hanging from the wall and staff wore no protective clothing.

The premises were immediately closed and allowed to reopen after a further visit confirmed it had been cleaned and pest control had visited.

However, a further revisit on June 13 revealed mouse droppings again throughout.

The owners were told to clean up and regular inspections have been carried out since.

At Tameside Magistrates the owners, trading as Godfather Fried Chicken and Pizza Ltd, were fined £2,800 with a victim surcharge of £140 and costs of £1,375 after admitting 11 offences under The Food Safety Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.

Oldham Council investigations also led to the prosecution of Totties (Oldham) Limited, trading as Totties Butchers in Tommyfield Market Hall.

A sample of minced lamb, bought as a test purchase by environmental health officers in April 2017, was found to contain 20 per cent cow DNA and five per cent pig DNA during analysis.

The firm was fined £700 with a £70 victim surcharge and costs of £1,815 costs after admitting an offence under the Food Safety Act 1990 by falsely describing or presenting food.

A food hygiene inspection was carried out at Siam Orchid, in Middleton Road, Royton, in January 2017 which revealed an uncontrolled rat infestation, poor cleaning and poorly maintained equipment.

In April, officers returned and ordered a nut-free Thai Chicken Noodle dish.

The food was sent for formal analysis to the public analyst laboratory. The results came back as unsatisfactory due to the presence of peanut protein, meaning the food could have been a serious health risk to someone with a nut allergy

The business, which is run by Siam Middleton Ltd, was fined £1,900 by Tameside Magistrates with a victim surcharge and costs of £1,650 after admitting four offences under The Food Safety Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 and two offences under The Food Safety Act 1990.

A similar offence was discovered when officers called Shalimar, Ashton Road, Oldham and ordered a nut-free chicken tikka masala in April last year.

The curry was sent for analysis and was found to contain 20mg/kg of peanut protein – meaning it was unsafe for a person allergic to peanuts to eat.

Former Owner Mohammed Amzud Ali Salik, of Werneth Hall Road, Oldham was prosecuted under the Food Safety Act 1990 and was fined £175 with a £30 victim surcharge and costs of £1,180.

Oldham Council said it is committed to ensuring businesses do not serve foods that are potentially dangerous to people with allergies.

It also said it is important all premises across the borough comply with food hygiene laws and that what they claim to be selling is as described on the label, menu or packet.

Environmental health officers regularly carry out inspections to check standards are being maintained, and test purchases from premises so the public are protected.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and co-operatives, said: "Oldham Council is committed to dealing with serious lapses in food hygiene, especially where the safety of residents is put at risk. We will not hesitate to take action.

"Business owners who run food establishments must comply with food hygiene laws or be prepared to face the consequences."

All food businesses inspected by the council are given a rating based on their compliance with the legal requirements for hygiene, structural condition and confidence in the management.

Following a food hygiene inspection, a business is rated from five for a very good through to zero for those premises that need to improve urgently.

It is voluntary for the businesses to display the rating but gives the consumer an indication of its overall level of food hygiene compliance.

All Oldham food business ratings are on the Food Standards Agency website http://ratings.food.gov.uk/QuickSearch.aspx.