Enfield food supplier fined £18k after cat poo discovery

The company pleaded guilty to four food hygiene offences after council officers uncovered serious failings during inspections

Cat faeces pictured at FoodArt UK Ltd (credit Enfield Council)

A local company that stored food and drinks in a warehouse contaminated by cat faeces has been fined more than £18,000.

FoodArt UK Limited, based in Lockfield Avenue, Brimsdown, pleaded guilty to four food hygiene offences after environmental health officers from Enfield Council uncovered serious failings during inspections in January and February 2025.

The company breached requirements to keep their food premises clean, maintain repair and condition, and to ensure domestic animals were kept away from foodstuffs.

Because of the severity of the case, the council decided to take legal action and issue court proceedings.

FoodArt UK Limited recently pleaded guilty to four charges at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court. A fine of £12,000 was ordered by a judge, who also ordered the firm to pay costs of £6,355, bringing the total amount to £18,335.

During the council’s first inspection on 28th January 2025, officers discovered significant quantities of cat waste around the warehouse where food was stored.

The contamination included faeces, urine, and bacteria on the floor in aisles where drinks were stored, and on packaging that consumers may have handled and drunk from directly, including open crates of bottled water.

The surfaces on the premises had been walked across and urinated on by cats. Drinks bottles were improperly stored and had fallen into the aisles where cat faeces were found, increasing the risk of contamination.

Due to the imminent risk to and danger to public health, the business accepted the recommendation from environmental health officers to voluntarily close immediately for cleaning and disinfection.

When officers returned to the premises on 17th February 2025, to follow up the previous inspection, they found more issues with cat poo in the food warehouse. The premises was again closed for cleaning and staff training.

The risks associated with cat faeces include E.coli, salmonella and toxoplasmosis, which can cause miscarriage and damage to human organs in vulnerable people.

Elisa Morreale, the council’s cabinet member for licensing, said: “Our environmental health officers discovered a significant danger to public health, when they visited the company’s warehouse in Brimsdown which is not acceptable.

“We took immediate action and temporarily closed the premises down, for the owners to deep clean the areas identified to protect human health and help keep our residents safe.

“The fine imposed by the judge in court justifies the seriousness of this case.

“Business operators in Enfield are reminded of their responsibilities to ensure pest control measures are in place, and to regularly clean and maintain their premises.

“We won’t hesitate to take robust action against any business in the borough who breaks the law and puts our resident’s health at risk.”

Since the council prosecution, FoodArt UK has resumed trading from its Brimsdown warehouse.

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