Merton Council’s Environmental Health Team has successfully prosecuted a restaurateur after a routine visit revealed a catalogue of hygiene problems in his Indian restaurant including mice droppings in food.

Marimuthu Arunasalam who owns the Suvai Aruvi at 96 High Street, Colliers Wood, pleaded guilty to five food hygiene offences after the Environmental Health Officer discovered the standard of cleanliness within the kitchen to be very poor, with old food debris and grease on equipment and surfaces.

There was also evidence of a mouse infestation, including droppings in the food store, droppings in cooking pots and mouse foot-prints and droppings in a tray of rice flour.

Mr Arunasalam was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £462 in costs at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on 2 May.

Mr Arunasalam has been given a Home Office Caution for similar offences before. He has agreed to undertake food hygiene training and has carried out work to improve the condition of the restaurant.

Ends
PRESS CONTACT- JASON HILL