The Real China in Highcross has been fined £12,000 after admitting 12 charges relating to food hygiene at Leicester Magistrates’ Court. Environmental health officers attending for a routine inspection found dirty equipment, broken fridge seals and food stored at the incorrect temperature.
One of the main charges related to the serving of buffet style food. According to law, such food must be kept at 63 degrees or higher. Fried chicken was found to be 52 degrees and shredded pork 59 degrees.
Prosecutor, Nicki Agalamanyi, said:
“When an officer asked the chef to show her the food temperature probes, she was given two probes. The probes were very dirty and, when this was brought to the chef’s attention, he was seen to pick food debris from the probes with his fingers.”
This took place in October. In November, a subsequent visit saw the restaurant advised to repair or replace floor surfaces but by January, nothing had been done. The floor was slippery underfoot and other issues were also apparent. Food had been put into refrigerators before it had sufficiently cooled and again some hot buffet food was being served at too low a temperature, including chicken and mushroom at 50 degrees.
Wenbing Liang, the director of the firm which runs the restaurant, responded by saying:
“On behalf of the company and all my colleagues, I want to say sorry. We have undertaken a deep clean and have spent tens of thousands on a new floor and new equipment.”
Another inspection is scheduled in the near future.