Letchworth bakery fined £19,000 for food hygiene breaches

Amjad Malik, director of Letchworth Garden City Bakery Ltd, admitted the breaches at Stevenage Magistrates' Court on November 29, which were uncovered during two inspections by North Herts Council earlier this year.

Video evidence provided a visual account of the poor conditions within the South View bakery, and illustrated the lack of investment in hygiene and safety.

The court imposed fines totalling £19,282, including victim surcharges and costs.

Malik was fined £1,500, with an additional victim surcharge of £600, and ordered to pay half of the council’s costs, amounting to £3,086.

Letchworth Garden City Bakery Ltd faced fines of £9,000, a victim surcharge of £2,000, and was also ordered to pay £3,086 in costs.

This is the third time Malik has been prosecuted for food hygiene offences. (Image: North Herts Council)

This is the third time Malik has been prosecuted for similar offences, and he was warned that any future breaches could result in the case being referred to crown court, where penalties could include significantly higher fines or even imprisonment.

Cllr Dave Winstanley, North Herts executive member for housing and environmental health, said: "Whilst I am never pleased to see any of our businesses being prosecuted, where there are clear public safety risks, it’s reassuring to know that our council officers are enforcing legal standards to keep our communities safe.

"This prosecution highlights the hard work our food officers put into ensuring food safety, while also helping to maintain a level playing field for our food businesses.

"No one should gain an unfair economic advantage by neglecting to invest in and maintain their operations, as we’ve seen in this case.

"We all face challenges, but cutting corners on hygiene and food safety is never acceptable. I’m pleased to say our food officers will always address poor practice and legal breaches whenever they arise."