THE prosecution of the owner of a St Annes sandwich shop - where maggots and rotting food were found - should serve as a warning to others, say health chiefs.
The male proprietor of The Sandwich Factory, Wood Street, appeared before Blackpool Magistrates Court to answer seven food hygiene charges.
Environmental Health officials visited the shop on June 22, 2007.
They discovered a very poor standard of fo
od hygiene within internal and external areas of the premises at the time of the officers' visit.
Rodent activity was observed within the main food preparation area and adequate arrangements were not in place to manage pest control or refuse.
Rotten food, maggots and oil were found to be stored at the rear of the premise and there were no materials available for hand washing.
No HACCP systems were in place to control food safety, as required by regulations.
At the time of the offences, the operator had left the management of shop with a third party while he set up of a new food business in Ireland.
However, as he was the registered owner the prosecution fell to him.
Coun Patricia Fieldhouse, cabinet member for social wellbeing, said: "This prosecution sends a clear message to all businesses, that the overall responsibility for food safety lies with the food business operator, regardless of their distance from the business.
"Fylde Borough Council will not hesitate in instigating legal action where there is a clear breach of food hygiene legislation."
The owner pleaded guilty to all seven charges. He was fined £405 and ordered to pay £500 towards costs. The business is no longer trading from this address.
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