Mouse Droppings

  • ‘At least you didn’t eat all of it’ UK takeaway serves pizza with poison mouse droppings

    Posted: November 19th, 2011 - 10:34am by Doug Powell

    The owner of a Plymouth, U.K. takeaway has been banned for life from serving food to the public after admitting selling a pizza contaminated with poisoned mouse droppings.

    Judge Paul Darlow told Pervez Alvi (right, Plymouth Herald), "I would dearly like to hit you in the pocket" after hearing that investigating the case had cost Plymouth City Council more than £5,400.

    But he imposed what he called "token costs" of £500 because of the "terrible" state of Alvi's finances.

    Prosecutor Julia Cox told Plymouth Crown Court that on March 20, 2010, a woman bought a pizza from Favourite Pizza as a treat for her son, who had just come out of hospital.

    But as they ate it, they noticed "a strange chemical taste", which turned out to be caused by mouse droppings containing rodent poison.

    The woman phoned the shop and Alvi called to see her, commenting: "At least you didn't eat all of it."

    He offered her £30 for the return of the pizza, but she refused and called Environmental Health.

    Blue-green pellet-shaped objects in the pizza base were found to be mouse-droppings.
    Inspectors attended the premises and immediately found mouse excrement in many areas, including on packaging materials and baking trays.

    They also found gnawed cardboard and a hole in the skirting, while paperwork was incomplete.

    He was told to clean and disinfect the premises and employ a pest controller, and next day things had greatly improved.

    But a later visit found cracked tiles, a dirty hob and floor, and more mouse droppings under stainless-steel food-preparation surfaces and near a food chiller.

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    food safety, mouse droppings, Pervez Alvi, Pizza, plymouth
  • Rhode Island sushi restaurant closes; mouse droppings in flour, diapers in kitchen, 8 people sick

    Posted: May 26th, 2011 - 4:45pm by Doug Powell

    Uncle Sushi and Grill in Cranston has shut down after health inspectors found mouse droppings and evidence that a baby's diapers were being changed in the kitchen, among other violations.

    Felice Freyer of Projo reports the inspection took place on Monday when health officials learned that eight people who ate at the restaurant on May 19 became ill with vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramps.

    Based on the symptoms, the illnesses were probably caused by norovirus, said Health Department spokeswoman Annemarie Beardsworth. All employees were asked for stool samples, and so far three have tested positive for norovirus, she said.

    Although the owner, Thong Den Vongvixay, closed the restaurant voluntarily, the Health Department issued a compliance order to make sure that he does not reopen until all violations are corrected, Beardsworth said.

    Among the key violations that inspectors found:


    • mouse droppings were found in flour, jimmies and noodles and on the doilies on which sushi is served.;
    • vinegar was being stored in container previously used for laundry detergent.;
    • rice was kept at room temperature in a turned-off cooker;
    • the restaurant does not employ a full-time manager certified in food safety
    • scooters, toys, powder and wipes were found in the kitchen area, suggesting that a child was allowed in the kitchen area and diapers were changed there.

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    Cranston, food safety, mouse droppings, restaurant inspection, Rhode Island, Uncle Sushi and Grill