Emergency hygiene shutdown of Oxford burger joint explained

Peppers Burgers on Walton Street was shut on Tuesday, March 31, after hygiene inspectors attended, with Oxford City Council now revealing the full reasons behind the move.

Cabinet member for a safer Oxford, Lubna Arshad, said the conditions found were “wholly unacceptable” and “posed a serious risk to public health”.

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The Labour politician added: “Businesses serving food in Oxford have a legal and moral responsibility to maintain rigorous hygiene standards.

“We will not hesitate to take immediate and robust action where there is an imminent risk to residents and visitors, and where operators fail to recognise or act on serious food safety breaches.”

A notice in the window of Peppers Burgers in Walton Street, Oxford from earlier this year (Image: Submitted)

Following the inspection by the council’s Business Regulation Team, the Magistrates Court served a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order on the eatery, that was once described as a ‘rite of passage’ for new arrivals in Oxford.

In addition it was handed a zero-food hygiene rating.

Officers found evidence of a serious mouse infestation throughout the business, with a dead mouse located behind a freezer in a food storage room and large quantities of droppings in the kitchen, food storage areas, food preparation rooms and the customer lobby.

Rodent faeces was also seen under sinks and on shelving used to store food wrapping paper, with extensive contamination risks identified to both food and food packaging stored in affected areas.

There was no food-safe sanitiser or disinfectant available on site, no food safety management procedures, records of documentation nor was there any evidence of routine pest control checks or a professional pest control contract.

Peppers Burgers on Walton Street (Image: Matthew Evans)

Large gaps around pipework, skirting boards and in the timber flooring were identified, allowing rodents easy access throughout the building, with the building also deemed to be insufficiently pest proofed.

As a result of these conditions, any food prepared or stored at the premises was considered to be at high risk of contamination by the council’s team.

The food business operator, Mr Ali Ashraf, did not demonstrate an understanding of the seriousness of the risks identified, according to the council and the premises were not voluntarily closed after the initial inspection.

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The Magistrates Court commented that the quality evidence presented by the Business Regulation Team were of “the standards we appreciate”.

They added that Mr Ashraf’s behaviour during the inspection was not acceptable, as the operator claimed that the mice were seasonal and that they came every year.

Following subsequent visits and advice from Oxford City Council’s Food Safety Officers, the premises are now broadly compliant and have re-opened.