The directors of a city business where cockroaches contaminated surfaces and equipment have been successfully prosecuted by City of Wolverhampton Council.
Acting on a complaint, the council’s environmental health officers visited The Millions Kitchen, in Showell Road, and discovered the infestation.
Food preparation surfaces, equipment and food packaging were all found to be contaminated by contact with cockroaches when officers made their inspection during August 2023.
Chris Onohwano Igomuaye and Sikiru Owolewa, directors of The Millions Kitchen, each pleaded guilty to a breach of The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 during a hearing at Dudley Magistrates Court on Friday 7 February.
The same charge was brought against the business, and a guilty plea was also entered.
The business was fined £4,000, ordered to pay costs of £5,554 and a victim surcharge of £1,600. Igomuaye and Owolewa were each fined £270, ordered to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £108.
Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Cockroach infestations indicate a dreadful level of food hygiene which can cause significant illness.
“The business and directors were knowingly putting their customers at risk and I’m pleased that the court recognised the severity of the offences committed.
“The council works very hard to protect city residents and visitors from the sort of risks that were found in The Millions Kitchen and I hope other businesses take note of the fact that we take food hygiene very seriously in Wolverhampton.”
