Over 2t of fresh meat was found to be cut and packed from the workshop of a carwash in Wiltshire.
Environmental health officers from Wiltshire Council’s food and safety team were sent to remove over 2t of fresh meat, including beef, lamb and goat meat from sale to the public.
They found the meat being cut and packed for delivery throughout the UK in a second hand car wash premises in Ludgershall.
The council’s officers, working with a Food Standards Agency (FSA) veterinary officer, searched the business at 23 Andover Road under warrant on November 27 and found whole and part carcases again being cut in poor conditions, which exposed the meat to the risk of contamination.
Image source: Wiltshire Council
Officers had previously searched Devizes Hand Car Wash at 12 – 18 New Park Street on October 23, where they witnessed fresh meat being cut in a vehicle workshop in grossly unhygienic conditions.
Both car wash businesses and meat cutting activities were being carried out by the same business operator.
Emergency enforcement action was taken in October to prohibit the activity in Devizes where 2.7t of meat was seized as unfit for human consumption and later condemned by Swindon Magistrates Court, which granted a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order to prohibit the activity from continuing.
Moving premises
The business operator subsequently moved the activity to the second car wash site at Ludgershall, but had made no attempt to register that activity with the council or seek the necessary approval for it from the FSA, despite a warning after the previous enforcement action.
Image source: Wiltshire Council
A further prohibition is in force on the meat-cutting activity and the latest consignment of meat has also been condemned and destroyed.
Cllr Simon Jacobs, Cabinet Member for public health and public protection, said:
The conditions found at both these car wash sites have shocked our officers. They found that even the most basic requirements such as clean food rooms, a hot water supply, washing facilities, the control of pests and basic welfare facilities for food handlers were missing.
“This business has put their customers at risk. The need for officers to have to act in this way, not once but twice, is an extremely serious matter and we are working very closely with the Food Standards Agency on further enforcement to safeguard the public.”
The council’s investigation into these activities are ongoing.
