A seafood processing business in the southwest Cornwall town of Newlyn is to be taken to court for prosecution over allegations that it breached food hygiene laws, possibly putting the health and safety of the public at risk.
The owner of the crab processing business, Jacek Sylwester Fester, has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the allegations made against him at Truro Magistrates’ Court. The local council is claiming that the business failed to provide employees with wash basins which had hot and cold running water, and also that the facility was operating without the approval of a competent authority.
A further allegation is that Mr Fester denied a food hygiene officer from the council’s environmental health team access to an upper floor of the premises, which is based on the Stable Hobba Estate in the fishing port of Newlyn. There are three allegations that Mr Fester and his business breached food hygiene regulations, each relating to an occasion in May of 2012.
The case will be heard at Truro Magistrates’ Court, where if Mr Fester is found guilty, he may receive a hefty fine. The case should serve as a warning to other food-serving businesses, as it can be costly as well as dangerous to public health food business employees do not have the correct health and safety training or the right facilities and equipment to prepare food safely.
