The hygiene offences, which were uncovered following investigations by Ealing Council’s food safety officers, took place at a Park Royal bakery and a Southall butcher, and were followed by court appearances for the owners of both firms.
Sciascia Storey and Co Ltd, of Acton Business Centre in Park Royal, is a commercial bakery which produces bread and pastry products for restaurants and hotels.
At Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 8 July, the bakery’s director Julian Sciascia pleaded guilty to a number of charges on behalf of the company, including failing to put adequate procedures in place to control pests, protect food against contamination and keep equipment clean.
Sciascia Storey and Co Ltd was ordered to pay a £12,000 fine, plus £5,120 court costs, with prosecution following two enforced closures of the business after past inspections.
Council officers first ordered the business to close following an inspection in January 2024, when they found an infestation of mice and deemed there to be an imminent risk to public health. The officers revisited the site a month later and were satisfied that improvements had been made, and allowed the business to reopen
However, when officers returned for another inspection in July 2024, they again found a mouse infestation and serious contamination risk and ordered the business to close its doors once more. The company supplies food to other businesses and is still operating in the borough.
On the same day, butcher and grocery shop Deshi Bazar Ltd and its director pleaded guilty to a number of charges at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court. These included failing to put adequate procedures in place to control pests, keep premises clean and keep food protected against contamination.
Mohammed Belal of Argyll Avenue in Southall, was ordered to pay a £461 fine, £800 court costs and a £184 victim surcharge, while Southall Deshi Bazar Ltd was ordered to pay a £4,000 fine and £2,827 court costs.
The court action was taken after a food hygiene inspection in February 2024 where council officers found mice and cockroach infestations, raw meat not stored at the right temperature and poor cleaning practices.
Food was not safe for public health, so Southall Deshi Bazar Ltd saw its food hygiene rating decreased down to 0, although in March 2025 the rating was increased to 2, which is ‘some improvement is necessary’.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: “These appalling cases again highlight the council’s firm commitment to holding food businesses accountable when they fail to meet hygiene standards and put public safety at risk.
“Fortunately, the majority of food businesses in the borough are responsible and take pride in maintaining clean, safe environments for their customers. We remain dedicated to supporting those businesses to grow and succeed. In recent years, we have focused on providing advice and training for food businesses, to help them earn and maintain good food hygiene rating scores.
“In rare instances like these, where serious health risks are identified, we will act decisively to protect the public. We have undertaken a record number of food hygiene inspections in recent years.”
