GRIM DETAILS OF BENGAL PALACE HYGIENE INSPECTIONS REVEALED – COUNCIL INVESTIGATING FAILINGS

Black mould, thick grease and general poor hygiene were discovered at Newport’s Bengal Palace – but it’s only now, 8 months after inspectors slapped the Indian restaurant with a 0 rating, that Island Echo can reveal the grimy details. It was last July that Environmental Health inspectors paid a visit to the business on Shide Road, discovering a plethora of failings which led to the worst possible food hygiene rating being awarded. Island Echo sought a full copy of the food hygiene inspection report the following month, but by that time an investigation had been launched by the Isle of Wight Council. Despite the overwhelming public interest argument, for legal reasons the report couldn’t be released. A follow-up inspection was carried out in December, just days before Christmas, when a 1-star rating was awarded. Whilst an improvement, it still falls within the ‘major improvement necessary’ category. That report has also only now been released to the media. During their July inspection, Environmental Health officers noted that standards had deteriorated to an unacceptable level since the last inspection in January 2021. Among some of the worst findings was the discovery of burger sauce – in 2 separate locations – dated Best Before June 2017 – 6 years out of date. It was stated these were not used within the business. Inspectors also found a large quantity of reduced-to-clear eggs, dated best before 5th June, which were said to belong to the owner, however, 2 boxes were found in the kitchen. Inspectors also found a large number of flies (house flies and smaller fruit flies) throughout the kitchen area and protective clothing worn by staff was in a dirty condition. Furthermore, food handlers were seen not to wash their hands during the duration of the inspection and before handling food. Numerous other issues were discovered including, but not limited to:

• All bottles of sauces, pastes, spices and condiments in the kitchen had thick grease and dirt build-up
• Rotting potatoes were stored inside reused plastic tubs stacked with flies inside with a mouldy pan on top
• Chopping boards, specifically the red and blue ones, were black with mould growth and heavily scored
• The small red ‘ice cream style’ freezer in the kitchen was sealed shut with grease and once open the inside seals had mould growth and were black
• Raw frozen foods were stored unorganized and uncovered in the freezers beside cooked frozen foods
• A very large accumulation of waste and redundant equipment outside in the yard area, with mention that rats were present (although inspectors did not see any at the time of their visit)
• Uncovered food (prepared vegetables and cooked chicken) were being stored under the oven, which had a thick build-up of debris that had the potential to fall into these items
• The blender in the kitchen was black with what looked like mould growth in the handle section and base, and the lid still had residues of food – not washed effectively between uses
• Raw meat was being stored inside carrier bags in the freezer
• The shredded lettuce was being store in the outside fridge and did not have a lid on, next to buckets of raw meat
• The knives in the kitchen had a thick build-up of grime on the handles and the blade
• Raw keema mince was being stored uncovered next to the containers of uncovered garnish herbs and cooked foods
• All hand contact points in the kitchen were visibly dirty with a build-up of debris
• Tall, freestanding blue containers used to store peeled onions were very dirty
• The upright fridge in the kitchen used to store rice had a large build-up of black mould growth on the bottom edge of the door
• An area used for raw food preparation by the dual sink was black with mould and dirt
• The oven had a thick build-up of grime which had accumulated over some time
• There was a bucket of old dirty washing up water and cutlery sitting in the bottom that had been stored under the sink
• The inside of the microwaves were dirty
• Many of the plastic containers in use throughout the kitchen were all dirty and some damaged and had not been washed properly before being stacked for re-use
• The probe wipe containers in the kitchen were sticky with grease dirt
• Packets of defrosting reduced ASDA minced beef were found in the walk in chiller with no indication as to when they had been removed from the freezer

When the business was re-inspected in December, some improvements were found but local authority inspectors still only awarded Bengal Palace a 1 rating – which stands today. It was found that raw frozen foods were still being stored unorganised and uncovered in the freezers beside cooked frozen foods. Uncovered food was found next to the wash basin. An unclean cloth with evidence of mould growth was found under a chopping board and the chopping board itself, which had been used to chop up onions, was unclean. A blue barrel used to store peeled and prepared onions was also visibly unclean, as was a pot used to reheat rice. 2 packets of Paneer Cheese were found to be out of date (27th November) and a large bag of cheese was discovered open and unlabelled. On this occasion, there was no evidence of flies in the kitchen but the electric fly killer had evidence of numerous bodies of flies and insects and was unclean. Inspectors also noted that the microwave was unclean with flaking paint and exposed metal; mould growth was evident on the chest freezer; the walk-in chiller in the garden was unclean; the upright fridge door seals were damaged and a ceiling in the dry storeroom had been subjected to a water leak, with paint and plaster peeling. The Isle of Wight Council has not confirmed what, if any, action is being taken against the business some 9 months after an investigation was launched. A spokesperson for the local authority has said:

“The council recognises the importance of supporting businesses to achieve compliance as well as supporting economic development and growth.  However, where it becomes necessary to take enforcement action against a business, or individual, such action will be taken. “There is a wide range of options available to officers when considering offences and the enforcement approach to be taken.  In this case all the information was considered where in accordance with the Enforcement Policy a decision on the appropriate course of action was taken. “The business and all Island business will continue to be regulated by the team to ensure that hygiene, the safety and fitness of food are in line with the expected standards”.

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Commenting on why the business was not immediately shut down, the Council says that the standards were simply not bad enough. The spokesperson has added:

“In this case although there were poor standards, the conditions did not constitute an imminent risk, serious enough to result in the contamination of food, or a significant risk of food contamination. As such it was not appropriate to use powers to the close the premises. “Officers worked with the business advising them on the actions needed to be completed to comply with the food law. A number of these actions were completed immediately and others over a short timescale where visits were made to the business to confirm improvements”.

When Island Echo spoke to Bengal Palace in August last year, the manager – who declined to give his name – listed a number of excuses for the 0 rating. He stated that it had been a busy weekend (even though the inspection took place on a Wednesday), that they were short-staffed and that he had tested positive for COVID so wasn’t able to be at the inspection. It was also said that there was a language barrier between the kitchen and the inspector, that they were in the middle of redecorating and cleaning and that the inspector ‘didn’t give them a chance’. The unnamed man said:

“We’d like to apologise to the public and it was a one-off”.

It has been confirmed to Island Echo that there is a family connection between Bengal Palace and The Noodle Pot, also in Newport, which recently received a 1 food hygiene rating.

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