Health and Safety Update (September 2009)

TGI Friday's Fined £30,000 for 'catalogue of hygiene offences'

Restaurant chain TGI Friday's has been fined £30,000 after pleading guilty to a catalogue of hygiene offences uncovered during an investigation by Westminster council.

Environmental health officers conducted a surprise visit on the Covent Garden restaurant on 2 July 2008 after receiving six separate complaints from customers who had seen mice scuttling around inside.  The officers shut down the restaurant after finding a pile of dead cockroaches, mouse droppings and grease covered cabinets around its filthy kitchens. The resulting clean-up operation, which cost the chain £66,000, caught 65 mice and was six days before the popular American-themed restaurant reopened.

Councillor Daniel Astaire, said-

'These were appalling hygiene breaches, particularly for such a renowned restaurant chain which frankly, should have known better. We hope this serves as a lesson to all food businesses that such poor standards are not acceptable and that we will always push for the strongest possible punishment against offenders. The restaurant industry is a vital part of our economy, and we will not tolerate any behaviour which could jeopardise it or the safety of our millions of visitors.'

The restaurant pleaded guilty to six offences under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 at City of Westminster Magistrates on Wednesday 26th August 2009, and was ordered to pay the maximum fine of £5000 per offence, as well as covering all the council's costs.

Environmental health manager, James Armitage, said after the hearing:

'A restaurant of the size and stature of TGIs should be an exemplar to others, but this is one of the worst cases I've ever come across and the restaurant was virtually a breeding ground for rodents. It was made all the worse by the fact that staff had known about the mice infestation for over a year.'

We can advise you on any aspect of food hygiene and audit your kitchens for compliance with Regulations. Call the advice line or your Consultant for more information.