A FOOD warehouse in Reading has seen its operators fined thousands for multiple food safety hygiene breaches and serious health risks.
The warehouse at Unit 55, Milford Road, stores frozen and dry goods for retail shops in Reading, and is operated by Kingdom Family Limited.
In 2024, officers from Reading Borough Council’s safety teams seized around 400kg of illegal meat products which had been found at the site, after unlabelled, black bin bags full of meat were found in a walk-in freezer.
A number of food businesses were found to be operating without registration with the Food and Safety team.
Reading Magistrates’ Court approved the condemnation of the unsafe food, and Kingdom Family Ltd was ordered to pay over £6,000 in costs to the council.
However in October of that year, Council Food Safety Officers discovered yet more untraceable meat, as well as severe and widespread rat infestation during a routine inspection at the warehouse.
Officers found large quantities of food gnawed and food contaminated with rat urine and faeces, including sacks of rice, corn dough, cassava flour and tinned goods.
Despite formal warnings, the food business operator failed to take adequate and timely action to address the infestation, dispose of contaminated stock, clean the premises or implement traceability measures.
Officers were denied access for follow-up inspections, prompting the Council to obtain a warrant in November to re-enter the premises.
Continued evidence of rat activity and further contaminated food were found upon entry, as well as a further 68 sheep heads lacking health marks and in close proximity to food, posing a potential public health risk.
Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notices (HEPNs) were immediately issued to businesses operating on site; the warehouse was immediately closed and all unsafe food was seized.
Reading Magistrates upheld the Council’s actions, granting food condemnation orders and hygiene emergency prohibition orders due to the imminent risk posed to public health.
By December 2024, officers noted that “adequate” improvements had been made, and the warehouse was permitted to resume trade.
A further inspection in April last year, however, found continued structural issues and inadequate food safety management, including frozen meat waste and prawns ready for disposal on the floor next to a toilet.
On May 18 this year, the company, Kingdom Family Limited, and the sole director, Mr Ameyaw, both pleaded guilty to five food hygiene offences.
The included: Failing to be able to trace food and feed, placing unsafe food on the market, failing to ensure the cleanliness of the premises, failing to maintain a Food Safety Management System, and failing to notify Reading Borough Council of food business premises.
The Magistrates imposed the penalties against Mr Ameyaw, and he was fined £2,300, ordered to pay the victim surcharge of £920, and to contribute towards the council’s legal costs of £1,000.
The total sum owed by Mr Ameyaw to the court is £4,220.
Cllr Rachel Eden, Lead Councillor for Public Health and Education, said: “We take breaches of food safety extremely seriously, especially where there is a clear risk to public health.
“In this case, despite repeated warnings and support from our officers, the operator failed to act, leaving us no choice but to intervene in the appalling conditions.
“Our officers acted decisively to protect residents, and we welcome the court’s support in holding those responsible to account.
“We will continue to monitor the premises closely and take further action where necessary to safeguard the community.”
