Freshwater’s Fuoco Pizza has been handed a 1-star hygiene rating after inspectors found there to be mould on a stone chopping board and no running hot water.
Environmental Health Inspectors from the Isle of Wight Council found no less than 9 faults in the operation of the Freshwater-based pizza takeaway – located on Avenue Road – when they visited on 31st January and 1st February 2025.
Inspectors found, most notably, that on the day of inspection there was no hot water at the premises including in the wash hand basin, sink and toilet. When staff were asked how they had washed their hands, they advised inspectors that they had washed them in cold water. No temporary measures had been put in place to provide any hot water so that hands and surfaces could be cleaned effectively. The boiler was fixed the next day.
High-risk foodstuffs such as cooked chicken, mozzarella and pancetta were being stored at temperatures exceeding 8c, increasing their susceptibility to the growth of harmful bacteria and moulds.
The wooden panel between the sink and wall needed to be replaced as did the service work surface. Mould was seen growing on the inner seal of the vegetable fridge and the seal in the meat fridge was also dirty.
A stone chopping board – used to roll pizza dough – was found to be discoloured and had mould growth on it. Inspectors advised Fuoco that they should seek to discard the chopping board if it was no longer able to be cleaned effectively.
Staff claimed that allergen information was stated on the menu, but when checked, there was no reference to allergies.
A notice at the start of the report reads:
“As advised at the time of the inspection, I have discussed these findings with my Line Manager, as in addition to the failure to have hot water on the premises, you had no documented food safety management, procedures or records on the premises. This has been raised on previous occasions and you have received a Food Hygiene Improvement Notice in 2022.
“There is evidence of serious and continued offences of the food law, and therefore I had no option but to consider the Enforcement Policy and the most appropriate course of action.
“In discussion with my Line Manager, we have agreed to use discretion and address these deficiencies through a further written warning. However, it is important that you fully understand the details of this letter and what is expected of you as a food business operator. As if at subsequent inspections similar contraventions are identified then the officer will have no option but to consider further formal action.”
Food Hygiene Scores On The Doors
Compliance with food hygiene and safety procedures – 15
Compliance with structural requirements – 15
Confidence in management/control procedures – 20
Total score – 50
Fuoco Pizza has been approached for comment but at the time of publication, a response hasn’t been received.
They should be fined and made to close immediately and not allowed to reopen until everything is up to standard. They clearly don’t care about making people ill with their food. This is not the first time so should properly punished and the best way to do that is financially
Close them down!! No hot water disgusting, so staff go to the toilet expected to wash their hands in cold water and germs still on their hands? No allergies info on the menu, all it takes is someone with a severe allergy that could cause them to go into anaphylactic shock. I’m so glad I haven’t and won’t ever eat there. All about making money, you prob be out of business now
Close them down!! No hot water disgusting, so staff go to the toilet expected to wash their hands in cold water and germs still on their hands? No allergies info on the menu, all it takes is someone with a severe allergy that could cause them to go into anaphylactic shock. I’m so glad I haven’t and won’t ever eat there. All about making money, you prob be out of business now.
Pure filth, there is no other words.
Such filthy unhygienic establishments should be
fined heavily and closed down!
We had the pandemic and businesses have not learnt
anything about hygiene.
Close them down until they have fixed it all, until they are fit for purpose. Zero tolerance.
Another suspended sentence, typical of the Isle of Wight.
From what I see when visiting many food
establishments, so many are filthy, even many
showing 5 stars on their doors are shockers,
maybe the inspectors were p*ssed when they
handed out the 5 star sticker, or were given a freebie !
Lol
So many establishments employees are filthy,
just look next time you visit an eaterie and watch the
worker outside smoking and then they go back inside
and start serving without washing their hands.
Filthy B’stards
Nowdays I only eat out at an handful of places,
things have got worse since the pandemic and they
won’t be getting any better.
People have become lazy and don’t care about
hygiene.