The owner of a Letchworth bakery is set to appear in court next month, accused of a number of food safety and hygiene offences.

The Garden City Bread Company's Amjad Ghafoor Malik, of South View, Letchworth, is set to appear at Stevenage Magistrates' Court on November 1 to enter pleas on 15 offences, include pest and mould problems.

Malik is accused of the following food safety and hygiene regulation breaches at the Denturax Works in Icknield Way, between October 31, 2023 and December 4, 2023:

  • On October 31, failed to provide a suitable and sufficient means of natural or mechanical ventilation
  • On October 31, failed to ensure that floor surfaces were maintained in a sound condition and be easy to clean and where necessary, to disinfect and to allow adequate surface drainage
  • On October 31, failed to construct and finish ceilings, so as to prevent the growth of undesirable mould and the shedding of particles
  • On October 31, failed to make adequate provision for the storage and disposal of refuse together with a failure to design the refuse stores and manage them in a way to enable them to be kept free of animals and pests
  • On October 31, failed to ensure that raw materials and all ingredients were stored in appropriate conditions designed to prevent harmful deterioration and protect them from contamination
  • On December 4, failed to provide hot water for cleaning and disinfecting of works utensils and equipment
  • On December 4, failed to maintain surfaces in areas where foods are handled, in a sound condition and be easy to clean and, where necessary, to disinfect
  • Between October 31 and December 4, failed to provide food premises which were kept clean and maintained in good repair and condition
  • Between October 31 and December 4, failed to provide an adequate number of washbasins, which were suitably located and designated for cleaning hands
  • Between October 31 and December 4, failed to ensure that drainage facilities were adequate for the purpose intended
  • Between October 31 and December 4, failed to provide adequate changing facilities for personnel
  • Between October 31 and December 4, failed to implement and maintain a food safety management system based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points principles
  • Between October 31 and December 4, failed to ensure that every person working in a food-handling environment, maintains a high degree of cleanliness and wears clean protective clothing were necessary
  • Between October 31 and December 4, failed to implement adequate procedure to control pests
  • Between October 31 and December 4, failed to provide adequate supervision, instruction and/or training in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activity

READ MORE: Letchworth bakery owner must pay £5,000 after admitting 16 food hygiene offences

Malik and The Garden City Bread Company Ltd – trading as The AGM Bread Company – were ordered to pay £5,000 back in 2016, after admitting to 16 food hygiene offences.

Offences ranged from failing to keep areas and utensils clean to not protecting food from contamination, as well as not ensuring all ingredients were kept in proper conditions, with insects found in poppy seed sacks.

According to Companies House, there is an active proposal to strike off The Garden City Bread Company, with accounts overdue since November 30 last year.