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A restaurant that repeatedly used unhygienic wooden plates to serve food - despite being told not to - has been fined £50,000.

Ibrahim’s Grill and Steak House Ltd, on Warwick Rd in Acocks Green , was first visited by Environmental Health officers in October 2016 after an alleged food poisoning outbreak affecting a party of 14.

Birmingham City Council said there were concerns about the use of wooden plates, that were incapable of being cleaned, which were used to serve food.

(Image: Birmingham City Council)

The council said that despite serving improvement notices, the eatery continued to use the boards, which "could pose a risk of food poisoning to anyone eating from them".

The plates "were in such a damaged condition they could no longer effectively be cleaned and disinfected and presented a risk of contamination to food".

During the first visit to the premises there were a number of other issues highlighted, including a high level reliance being placed on the use of disposable gloves, rather than the washing of hands.

The cleaning of the premises was poor and sanitising chemicals were not being used in accordance with manufacturer instructions, Birmingham City Council said.

(Image: Google)

Officers served improvement notices requiring a remedy to the issues.

On a return visit in December 2016 it was found that whilst food handling had improved, the wooden plates were still being used.

The company entered a guilty plea at Birmingham Magistrates' Court after failing to Comply with a hygiene improvement notice in relation to the wooden plates.

They were fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £670 costs and £120 victim surcharge.

Mark Croxford, Head of Environmental Health at Birmingham City Council said “It is completely unacceptable for businesses to put the health of people eating at their restaurants at risk.

“The owners were given sound advice which they chose to ignore. I am pleased magistrates supported our efforts with a large fine and hope advice we give on improving businesses to protect health will not be ignored in future.”