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A Chinese restaurant in Birmingham has been fined £30,000 after four people who had eaten there had salmonella poisoning.

Chung Ying Garden Cantonese restaurant in Thorp Street was found to be in a dirty condition and had a mice infestation when it was visited by health inspectors following the outbreak.

The eatery admitted three breaches of food and hygiene regulations and was also ordered to pay £4,414 costs.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

Birmingham City Council were notified by Public Health England that there had been four cases of salmonella poisoning on December 16 2016.

All of those affected had eaten at the restaurant, which specialises in Cantonese dishes, on the afternoon of December 2, 2016.

Julia Kettle, prosecuting at a Birmingham Magistrates Court, said the particular strain was linked with eggs imported from Spain and the victims, two of which were hospitalised, suffered symptoms including diarrhoea, fever and abdominal pain.

As a result the inspectors carried out an unannounced visit ten days later.

“They found the premises to be in a poor condition.

“A number of contraventions of food hygiene legislation were noted.

“The premises was not being kept clean,” said Miss Kettle.

The officers discovered food debris and grease in a number of areas, including in the canopy above the pressure cookers as well as the ventilation fan in the ceiling, while pipe work and equipment in the kitchen were dirty and rusty.

There were also inadequate procedures in place to control pests and mouse droppings were found on the floor in the kitchen.

They were also next to clean plates and on shelving and throughout an upstairs store room.

In addition there was no hot water available for wash hand basins and no material for drying hands.

Miss Kettle said cooked food, including spare ribs was being stored next to uncooked food, such as raw prawns with the risk of cross contamination.

Also high risk foods were being stored at room temperature.

As a result of the inspection the restaurant was served with a prohibition notice and closed down for three days.

Tim Pole, defending, said the restaurant had been established in 1987 and employed round 60 people.

“It has always placed hygiene and safety of consumers and staff at the fore front of its operation.”

He said the inspection took place at one of the busiest times of the year when there had been large batches of pre-prepared food and that the salmonella poisoning was not necessarily connected to the restaurant.