Wigan Council’s environmental health team brought a prosecution against Five Star Bakery (Wigan) Ltd after a routine inspection and two further unannounced visits last year.
During the visits to the bakery manufacturer, which operates on Stephens Way in Goose Green, council officers said they found dirty machinery used to make bread rolls which were ingrained with grease and old bits of food debris.
Officers said there were also cobwebs ingrained with flour dust which were found hanging over open ingredients and mixing bowls, while a leak on the proofing oven led to wet, dirty walkways and a foul-smelling drain within the food production area. Mould was also found on the walls of the staff toilets and in the walk-in fridge, the council said.
At Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 17 October, magistrates heard that the offences took place on July 12, September 12, and October 29 of last year. They also heard that the company previously had issues with pests and had accepted a simple caution for offences in 2018.
The directors of the company, Steven George Barrett and John Kevin Hinnigan, pleaded guilty to 12 offences.
The charges included failing to implement an adequate food safety management system, and failing to update staff training in relation to food hygiene and safety.
It was also found that Hinnigan and Barrett failed to keep the premises in an acceptable condition and to ensure that adequate cleaning chemicals were available, with staff found to be using bathroom degreasers to clean machinery.
While the pair had engaged a pest contractor, mice droppings were found throughout the bakery with further evidence of rats, including droppings and nesting material found in the loft space, the council revealed.
Following the health and safety breaches, magistrates ordered Mr Barratt and Mr Hinnigan to pay fines totalling £12k, reduced to £8k due to their guilty pleas.
The business owners were also ordered to pay £1,217 in associated costs, meaning that the total financial punishment came to £9,217.
Councillor Paul Prescott, portfolio holder for planning, environmental services and transport, said: “This prosecution comes as a result of a thorough investigation from our environmental health teams, from site visits and inspections through to the diligent work included in the report.
“As a council, we want to support local businesses and the food and drink industry, but we are not afraid to take action against those who do not meet the standards that we and our residents expect.”
He added: “We want all residents to feel confident that the food businesses they use are safe and compliant, so we will continue with our monitoring and enforcement work to ensure that we maintain our high standards.”
