Cardiff takeaway fined £22k over dead mouse and droppings

🚨🐭 Two Cardiff food businesses have been shut down and hit with over £22,000 in fines after inspectors discovered a dead mouse, mouse droppings and uncovered raw meat on the premises.

Rasathi Sri Lankan Takeaway and Chennai Dosa in Canton, both owned by JS Local Ltd, were found to have committed “serious failings” in food safety management, Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday 15 December.

Environmental health officers first visited Rasathi Sri Lankan on 4 September 2024, requesting basic food safety paperwork including pest control records, allergy documentation and staff training certificates – but the operator failed to provide any information.

By 4 December, the site had been converted into a food storage facility for Chennai Dosa. Inspectors discovered mouse droppings in food preparation areas, dirty equipment, unrefrigerated food and poor levels of cleanliness.

Containers of raw meat and tubs of uncovered food were found on a shelf in the walk-in refrigerator, whilst the body of a dead mouse was discovered on the kitchen floor.

A closure notice was issued, then revoked on 6 December after deep cleaning and pest proofing were carried out – but poor food storage and pest activity continued, leading to enforcement action.

Councillor Norma Mackie said: “Basic requirements – such as effective pest control, thorough cleaning, and robust food safety management – were not in place.”

The cabinet member responsible for shared regulatory services added that the conditions at both sites “posed a clear and immediate risk to the public”.

“Businesses handling high risk foods, including rice, chicken, mutton, fish and eggs, must have effective pest control, robust cleaning and disinfection schedules, and a documented food safety management system. Failure to meet these standards endangers customers and will lead to enforcement action.”

Director Jerurasa Senjoansrajah was fined £3,072, ordered to pay £1,084 in costs and a £1,229 victim surcharge. JS Local Ltd was fined £16,080 and ordered to pay £1,084 in costs.