A derby restaurant that closed due to a mouse problem and serious hygiene issues were urged to make further improvements.
Istanbul Restaurant on Pear Tree Road was visited by Derby City Council food safety inspectors in March and received zero stars. It was then closed to make urgent improvements requested by the Council.
In their report, the inspectors explained how they found mouse droppings and a dead and living mouse all over the site.
It was re-inspected on June 10, 2021 and achieved a one-star rating, meaning big improvements are needed.
The joint had hired a pest control company to manage its rodent problem and while food hygiene and cleanliness were found “generally satisfactory”, significant improvements were needed in the management of food safety.
After the initial inspection on March 10th, the store was temporarily closed for improvements and reopened two days later.
In March, officials found sprouting potatoes in a storage room that had attracted multiple flies, dirty storage rooms and floors throughout the property, and lack of cleaning.
The Turkish restaurant and takeaway staff did not wear appropriate or clean overcoats and no soap was provided to wash their hands.
Istanbul restaurant on Pear Tree Road which received a zero star rating for food hygiene in March and a one star rating in June.
(Image: Derby Telegraph)
The report said, “At the time of my visit, the premises were found to be in a dirty condition and there was evidence of activity from mice in the form of feces, a dead mouse, and a live mouse.
“As a result, the site was closed as part of a voluntary closure agreement. As you know, mice carry food poisoning bacteria and can contaminate food and food surfaces with which they come in contact.
“You have to take appropriate measures to keep your premises free from pests at all times.
“Since your return visit on March 12, 2021 it was found that the premises were much cleaner and that there were controls to ensure food safety, the voluntary closure was lifted and you were able to reopen.
“However, you need to keep the premises in a clean condition at all times and ensure that the pest control work specified by your pest control company has been completed.
Derby City Council officials criticized the takeout as “dirty” and said it needed urgent improvements.
(Image: Derby City Council)
“I remind you that standards found on my first visit on March 10, 2021 will not be tolerated by this department and if similar standards are found on future visits, further legal action will be taken.”
The council put stringent improvement measures in place for the business and the diner hired a pest exterminator to solve its rodent problem.
A second inspection on June 10th – three months after the first – gave the store a one-star rating, so significant improvement is needed.
Although the inspection found the restaurant to be generally satisfactory in terms of food hygiene and the cleanliness and condition of facilities and the building, significant improvements were needed in food safety management, including ensuring food safety and security of staff understand food safety rules.
Istanbul was asked to comment.
A dirty hob in the Istanbul restaurant on Pear Tree Road which only received one star on re-inspection three months after it was temporarily closed, meaning big improvements are still needed.
(Image: Derby City Council)
The standards for grocery stores are set by the Food Standards Agency, but the inspections are carried out by the local authority.
Facilities can be rated anywhere from zero to five stars, with a three-star rating indicating a company is generally in compliance.
Councilors can temporarily close a deal if they are seen as an imminent threat to public safety.
After a company has been inspected, the council has 14 days to inform the operators of the assessment decision.
The Company will then have 21 days to appeal this decision and only then will we be able to submit a Freedom of Information request to Derbyshire Live, which may take up to 20 working days to be delivered.
Once we have received the information, we will contact the company in question again for comment and to see what action it has taken before we publish the results of the report.
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