Environmental health officers visited Sweet Elohim Afro Market in Lichfield Street after a member of the public raised concerns.
During the investigation in November 2023 officers found rat droppings throughout the store, which was selling fruit and vegetables in open boxes as well as other food in packets, tins and jars.
Evidence of the ‘significant’ infestation was also found where the open food was handled and ready to eat packaged food was stored.
The premises were closed and only allowed to re-open once it was determined that the immediate risk to health had been removed.
Georgina Konadu, director of Sweet Elohim Afro Market, pleaded guilty to two breaches of The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 at Dudley Magistrates Court on Wednesday 12 February 2025.
The same charges were brought against the business, and guilty pleas were also entered.
The business was fined £2,680, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £1,072 and £4,584 in costs. Konadu was fined £1,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £400 and £1,500 in costs.
“Our residents should be able to trust that the places where they buy food have the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness,” said councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council.
“In this thoroughly unpleasant case, evidence of the rat infestation was found throughout the premises. This caused a risk of significant illness in customers, and we had no choice but to close the premises until it was deemed safe.
“We do not take the decision to prosecute or close a business lightly. It is however necessary when public safety has been compromised and I hope it serves as a strong reminder to other businesses that these issues are taken seriously.
“We are grateful to the member of the public who contacted us and enabled our environmental health officers to swiftly close the premises.”
The business’s last hygiene rating was on 14 December 2023, scoring a rating of 4 (good), according to the Food Standards Agency website.*
This prosecution follows days after a fellow Wolverhampton food business was fined more than £12,000 due to cockroach infestation.
Commenting on the two events, Emma Caddick, service manager for environmental health at the City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “The conditions and extent of the infestations found in both premises in 2023, resulted in emergency action being taken by Officers of the City of Wolverhampton Council Environmental Health team.
“The conditions and scale of the infestations in the premises had resulted in contamination of food storage and preparation areas, placing customers at a significant risk of illness. In order to protect public safety, the authority had no option but to formally close the premises.
“Both premises remained closed for considerable time periods until officers were satisfied, they were safe to resume trade. The conditions found were extremely poor and the fact that the business operators continued to trade without taking appropriate action to remove the infestation was shocking.“We hope the outcome confirms to businesses that such conditions and failing to comply with legal obligations will not be tolerated.”
*Accurate at the time of writing
