Things Turn Sour for Acton Sweet Maker

Company fined by Council after breaking food hygiene laws

A sweet manufacturer has a sour taste in his mouth after being told he will have to cough up £13,674 because his company broke food hygiene laws.

Hassan Haddad, a director of Sweetland Limited, based in Park Royal, appeared before Ealing Magistrates on Thursday, 20 August. He pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching food hygiene regulations on behalf of his company.

Ealing Council prosecuted after officers discovered dirty, greasy and damaged equipment during a routine inspection at the factory in School Road last October. The council’s regulatory services officers also found staff were not supervised properly and systems were not in place to ensure hygiene rules were being followed.

The factory, which produces up to a ton and a half of Mediterranean-style sweets such as Baclava a day, was closed voluntarily for four days while the problems were addressed.

Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Councillor Vlod Barchuk, said: “ This company is a major producer of Mediterranean-style sweets which are sold across London. It is unacceptable that they should have such total disregard for food hygiene and food safety. All food businesses need to know that we will take action if they flout the law and I’m pleased the court has handed down such a hefty fine.”

Under the Scores on the Doors scheme, which gives businesses ratings for food hygiene, Sweetland Ltd has the minimum zero star rating. The score can rise or fall, as conditions change. To find out the food hygiene scores for other food producers and restaurants visit www.ealing.gov.uk.

September 3, 2009