Owner banned from Mama’s Kitchen in Harrow after mouse droppings found on rotting food

Kalpana Ashokumar, from Harrow, was ordered to pay £24,905 at Willesden Magistrates Court on April 25, after pleading guilty to seven counts of food hygiene breaches at Mama’s Kitchen, in Northolt Road, Harrow.

She was also asked to step down as business owner and the shop will face closure unless there is a change in management and “significant improvements” are made.

Suring a surprise visit, food hygiene inspectors uncovered rodent droppings and rotting food on the shelves in the kitchen, storeroom and serving area where meals were made.

Mice were able to come and go through gaps between doors, unsealed drains and damaged ceiling panels.

Overflowing bins and rotting food on the floor were also found to be contributing to the infestation.

The shop was so “filthy and infested” with vermin that inspectors even their food safety guide covered in dirt on the floor.

Cllr Graham Henson, the cabinet member for environment, crime and community safety said: “This is the stuff of kitchen nightmares – someone could have ended up in hospital. It’s our job to protect customers and we’ve done that today.

“This huge fine is totally deserved. Despite all our efforts to help Mrs Ashokumar, she failed to bring her business up to scratch. I want to be completely clear – when we find businesses in a disgusting state, we will make them pay.”

The court heard Harrow Council had first discovered hygiene issues in 2012.

In her defence, Ashokumar said improvements had been made but admitted that over the past four years, she had been spending a lot of time with her children and was not aware of these issues.

The court ruled that, as the business owner, the responsibility and failures of the shop stopped with her.