Mouse-infested cheese shop in south London given 75,000 fine after inspectors found droppings and nibbled ham

"Croydon Magistrates Court heard the first breach occurred in May 2024, when officers found mice droppings on the floor, shelves and food preparation areas at the Dulwich store. A walk-in fridge contained a kilogram of ham that had been gnawed at by rodents and contaminated by their faeces. The sullied ham was immediately destroyed by officers onsite and the shop agreed to close down."

"Further safety failings were uncovered during a visit to the Tower Works site in June 2024, with "extensive mouse droppings" found on shelves, in storage areas and in crates used to transport cheese. There was no running hot water and equipment used to cut food was unhygienic and unsanitary. When asked by inspectors, staff were unable to provide expiry dates for 30kg of cheese, which was destroyed."

"The Dulwich store was previously honoured as a cheese monger named by the Dulwich Estate in 2021 and it ran stalls at markets in Crystal Palace, Horniman, Victoria Park and Alexandra Palace, as well as cookery classes. The business attracted food enthusiasts from far and wide and their produce was served during art exhibitions But Southwark Council launched a prosecution following the discovery of rodent droppings, which led to a 75,000 fine, plus a 2,000 victim surcharge and almost 3,000 in prosecution costs - totalling 79,979.60."

Heritage Cheese Kitchen Ltd was convicted in November for breaches of food safety standards at two sites in Dulwich and Tower Works. In May 2024 inspectors discovered mice droppings across floors, shelves and food preparation areas and a walk-in fridge containing a kilogram of ham gnawed and contaminated by rodent faeces; the ham was destroyed and the Dulwich shop closed. A June 2024 visit to Tower Works found extensive mouse droppings, no running hot water, unhygienic equipment, and 30kg of cheese without expiry dates that was destroyed. Southwark Council prosecuted, resulting in fines, surcharges and prosecution costs totalling £79,979.60, and the business closed.

Read at www.standard.co.uk