A kitchen cockroach infestation at the Swadesh Indian restaurant in Manchester city centre has led to a damning report from the Food Standards Agency.
Swadesh restaurant on Portland Street was given a food hygiene rating score of zero out of five, after an inspection back in February.
The report stated ‘urgent improvement was necessary’ after cockroaches were found in a kitchen, where there was also no dedicated hand wash basin for staff.
The report said there was ‘a significant risk of food being contaminated’ with toxins which can cause diseases for humans.
The restaurant was also described as failing to comply with ‘statutory obligations’ of food and hygeine safety with ‘standards generally low’.
ZERO: Portland Street restaurant given lowest food hygiene rating score
While from a structural point of view the report stated the establishment represented a ‘total non-compliance’ with regulations.
Moreover, Swadesh was said to have a ‘poor track record of compliance and little or no technical knowledge’ when it came food safety management.
Threatening to close the premises unless standards improved, the report outlined essential procedures that the restaurant should follow to reach a satisfactory standard.
“The restaurant must work along with their pest control company to gain control of the cockroach problem identified in the kitchen,” the report said.
“Seal the cracks and crevices to prevent further infestation and a new hand wash hand basin dedicated for hand washing only must be provided within the kitchen, as must hot water, soap and a disposable towel to the hand wash basins.
TOXIC: Report said there was ‘a significant risk of food being contaminated’
“The level of cleaning to areas under and behind the equipment such as dishwashers and sinks in that area must be improved and maintained.”
Shahid Binalli, a member of the front of house staff at Swadesh told MM that ‘everything is fine now’, but was unable to provide an answer as to what exactly had been done to tackle the cockroach problem.
He said the only person who could clarify the changes that had been made at the restaurant was the manager who was out of the country and unavailable to speak.
Swadesh, who on their website tell customers to ‘prepare yourself for excellence’, will remain open.
Main stock image of cockroach courtesy of Neil Turner, with thanks, and only used for illustration purposes.
