Former care home fined £25,000 for poor hygiene practices
A former Dunstable care home has been fined £25,000 after failing a food hygiene inspection.
Benlow’s Management Company, the owner of Chiltern View Care Home, received the fined after appearing in court in August and pleading guilty to four offences.
Central Bedfordshire councillor Rebecca Hares, executive member responsible for health and community liaison, said: “The level of the fine imposed by the court reflects the severity of the offences. This serves as a clear message to other businesses that we will not tolerate those who disregard food hygiene regulations. We take food hygiene extremely seriously, and the inspection conducted by our officers revealed significant breaches of standards, including an untreated mouse infestation.
“We will not hesitate to take action against any business that fails to meet the required food hygiene standards. It is our goal to ensure that residents and visitors to Central Bedfordshire can have confidence in the safe and hygienic storage and preparation of their food.”
The unannounced food hygiene inspection on 11 May 2022 found an active mouse infestation in the kitchen, poor food hygiene practices with out-of-date food in the fridge and inadequate cleaning measures for both the kitchen and equipment.
The council found the care home to have failed to establish adequate procedures for pest control, neglected the cleanliness of the premises and did not implement a food safety management system.