Manky kebab shop closed down after inspectors find deep-fried rat

Health inspectors have shut down a kebab shop after discovering a deep-fried rat in its kitchen.

The fried rodent was found during a visit to Mexicano Food Box, in Preston, Lancashire, which voluntarily closed following the inspection.

Other photos taken by the council’s food hygiene officer in September showed a filthy kitchen area overrun with cockroaches.

Kitchen appliances were also caked with dirt while the dead rat was the cherry on the cake.

Unsurprisingly, the restaurant ranked zero – the lowest possible hygiene rating – for food hygiene and was told that ‘urgent improvement’ is needed.

Inspectors also discovered bread buns stored next to raw doner kebabs and no soap in the toilets.

They found a fridge full of cheese at a temperature of 13C – five degrees warmer than the legal requirement.

The restaurant, which has been removed from some delivery websites such as Uber Eats, offers takeaway food including pizza, kebabs, burgers, and burritos.

A council letter sent to the owners following the visit says: ‘The premises was in a poor state of cleanliness at the time of the inspection and a cockroach infestation was found without adequate control.

‘Food was not protected from a risk of contamination.

‘You agreed to voluntarily close the business to carry out a deep clean and put measures in place to control the cockroach infestation.

‘Should similar conditions be found on any future inspections then formal action may be taken.’

A Preston City Council spokesperson said: ‘Where things go wrong, inspectors can detain and seize food, equipment, records, and in the worst cases require a business to stop using a particular ingredient, process or premises.

‘Food law provides a minimum standard for businesses to maintain.

‘Where businesses fail to maintain those hygiene standards, formal action will be taken where the proprietor does not cooperate fully.’

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