Edmonton cake business fined £10k over hygiene breaches

Mouse droppings were found throughout the premises including the food production area, food storage area, and staff kitchen

Sugarbake and (inset) a build-up of dirt on the floor (credit Enfield Council)

An Edmonton cake manufacturing business and its manager have been fined more than £10,000 for breaching hygiene laws following a successful prosecution by Enfield Council.

Sugarbake (London) Limited, based in Nobel Road, pleaded guilty to six food hygiene offences after council environmental health officers uncovered serious failings during an inspection last September.

The cake manufacturing business bakes and packs a wide range of cakes, tarts, muffins, biscuits, and produces fresh cream cakes to order. The company supplies other businesses locally and nationally, including wholesalers, cash and carry outlets.

But the council found the company had breached requirements to keep their food premises clean, to have pest control procedures in place, maintain repair and condition, and to ensure utensils and equipment were clean.

Food chillers were found to be in poor maintenance, sink taps were dirty and rusty, food spillages on floors, mould, damp, and condensation on the ceiling and structural damage to the building.

Mouse droppings were found throughout the premises including the food production area, food storage area, and staff kitchen.

Droppings were also seen on shelving and on the floor posing the risk of contamination from pests, along with open bags of food and ingredients stored in dirty containers.

Due to the severity of the case, the council deemed it in the public interest to follow up with legal action and issued court proceedings.

Sugarbake and its manager Ismail Colak pleaded guilty to charges presented at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court.

Sugarbake was fined £4,000 with a victim surcharge of £300 and ordered to pay council prosecution costs of £2,674.48. Ismail Colak was fined £750 with a victim surcharge of £300 and ordered to pay costs of £2,674.48. It brought the total of fines and cost orders issued to £10,698.96.

The offences committed by Sugarbake were in contrary to the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.

Elisa Morreale, the council’s cabinet member for licensing, said: “Maintaining hygiene practices in premises where food is handled and prepared is not optional.

“The seriousness of this case is highlighted by the fine imposed by a judge in court who described the condition of the premises as appalling.

“The failings uncovered by our officers were way below expected standards, and food handling practices demonstrated an unacceptable risk.

“The council will always take firm enforcement action when protecting public health.”

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