Mahbub Chowdhury, 46, from Swindon, wiped his bottom using his hands before preparing food at Yeahya Flavour of Asia

A takeaway chef wiped his bottom using his hands before preparing food because he does not use toilet paper for 'cultural reasons', a court heard.

Mahbub Chowdhury, 46, from Swindon, was found to have a filthy bottle in the kitchen of Yeahya Flavour of Asia, which inspectors concluded was covered in faecal matter.

When questioned, he said he filled the empty milk bottle with water from the kitchen taps before using it to clean his backside after going to the toilet.

Chowdhury prepared meat and fish curries at the takeaway, which was run out of a rented kitchen at the Nine Elms pub.

The chef, who no longer works at the takeaway, pleaded guilty to ten counts of breaching food hygiene regulations at Swindon Magistrates Court.

He was fined more than £5,000 last year for ten similar offences relating to food hygiene.

Rosie Heath, prosecuting, said environmental health officers who visited the business in May last year found 'very poor standards of hygiene'.

She said: 'In the kitchen under the double sinks [they] found an empty plastic milk bottle which was extremely dirty and was covered with brown fingerprints.

'When asked, Mr Chowdhury explained he filled the bottle with water from the kitchen taps and used it to clean his bottom after visiting the toilet.

The chef was found to have a filthy bottle covered in 'faecal matter' at the takeaway, which he ran out of a rented kitchen at the Nine Elms pub

'He did not use toilet paper for cultural reasons. Inspectors concluded the brown finger prints was faecal matter.'

Mark Glendenning, defending, said the milk bottle was never examined and the marks could have been spices.

Chowdhury will be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court.

NO LOO ROLL: HOW MUSLIMS, HINDUS AND OTHERS USE WATER WHEN THEY GO TO THE TOILET A jug, called a lota, is filled with water to wash after going to the toilet Muslims, Hindus and others in India and other South Asian countries, as well as in the Middle East, use water to clean themselves after going to the toilet. A jug, called a lota, is filled with water, or a hose or bidet shower is used. Traditionally, the left hand is used to wash after going to the toilet, while the right hand is used to eat. In Islam, there are a set of practices laid out regarding toilet etiquette. Although they are not compulsory, many devout Muslims follow the teachings. The Qadaa' al-Haajah code states that one should clean their private parts using water and their left hand, or three stones. In Hindu scripture, there are also detailed instructions about purifying rituals that should follow urination and defecation. Advertisement



