Salford business found guilty of severe food hygiene offences

The owner of Dovid’s Deli in Salford has been prosecuted for the widespread pest infestation throughout his business.

The sole operator of the deli business on Leicester Rd, Mr David Aubrey Weisz, pleaded guilty to three food hygiene offences committed on May 19 2022 and three food hygiene offences committed on January 5 2023.

He was today (April 4) fined £333 by the District Judge with a victim surcharge of £133 and £1500 in costs.

The offences related to failure to ensure that the construction of the premises prevented pest entry, failure to have adequate procedures to control pests in place, and failure to keep food premises clean.

During the first inspection from Salford City Council’s Environmental Health Team on May 19 2022, officers identified a widespread pest infestation throughout the food business, exacerbated by poor cleaning and several potential pest entry points.

During the visit, Mr Weisz signed a Voluntary Prohibition and agreed to close the food business immediately. A detailed food hygiene inspection report was issued to Dovid’s Deli, and a Hygiene Improvement Notice was also served to secure compliance.

During a revisit on June 7 2022, an Environmental Health Officer confirmed that sufficient measures had been taken to allow trading to resume. The Hygiene Improvement Notice had also been complied with.

However, during the next routine inspection of the deli in January 2023, officers once again noted a failure to ensure the construction of the food business prevented pest entry, a failure to have adequate procedures to control pests, and a failure to keep the food premises clean.

The lack of suitable improvements Mr Weisz failed to make and the severity of the food hygiene issues discovered over a short period led to the instigation of legal proceedings, leading to today’s sentencing.

John Searle, Executive Director of Place, at Salford City Council, said: “We take food hygiene very seriously in Salford, and the recent prosecution of Dovid’s Deli owner for multiple food hygiene offences underscores our commitment to upholding high standards.

“Our Environmental Health team responded diligently to the concerns raised, offering advice and opportunities for improvement. The sentencing reflects the gravity of the situation, emphasising the importance of compliance with food safety regulations. We will continue to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our residents by holding businesses to account for negligent practices.”