Bakery in East Wittering fined for selling pastry containing maggots

A bakery in East Wittering has been fined after selling a bacon and cheese pastry containing maggots, Chichester District Council has confirmed.
Home Bakery in Oakfield Road, East Wittering. Photo: Google ImagesHome Bakery in Oakfield Road, East Wittering. Photo: Google Images
Home Bakery in Oakfield Road, East Wittering. Photo: Google Images

Nigel Harris, who owns Home Bakery in Oakfield Road, was fined £800 and ordered to pay £2,590 in costs after pleading guilty to two offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on Friday 26 July 2019, the council spokesman said.

The incident took place in July 2018 and was immediately reported to the bakery and Chichester District Council’s Environmental Health Service, the spokesman said.

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After receiving the complaint, the council sent one of its Environmental Health Officers to the bakery to investigate and found a further pastry containing live maggots, said the spokesman.

District Judge Kelly acknowledged that this was a very serious offence but accepted that Mr Harris had made changes to his stock rotation procedures and that this was hopefully a one off incident, according to the spokesman.

The aggravating factor was that Mr Harris had been made aware of the complaint but had failed to immediately remove any other potentially contaminated products, the spokesman said.

Mr Harris’ business has recently been inspected and was awarded a top food hygiene rating of five, confirmed the spokesman.

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The Judge took this into account when making her final judgement.

Councillor Penny Plant, cabinet member for the environment at Chichester District Council, said: “This case sends a strong message to all food operators that we will take legal action if food safety standards are found to be unacceptable.

“We’re very pleased that Mr Harris has taken measures to avoid this happening again and that his business has now achieved a top food hygiene rating of five.

“The action taken in this case has resulted in a positive outcome for everyone.”

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