A borough bar and restaurant has been given a one-star food hygiene rating after inspectors found that “major improvements” are required.
The Goods In, located in Prestwich near Heaton Park, was set up in a disused warehouse on Infant Street in 2020 and serves a range of hot and cold food and drinks.
But inspectors from the Food Standards Agency visited last month and found out-of-date food in the fridge and “high-risk” meat products being stored at incorrect temperatures.
The report said: “During the inspection, cooked sausages were probed at 11°C and cooked bacon was probed at 12°C.
“These foods are high-risk and will support the growth of food poisoning bacteria and/or their toxins and must be kept at or below 8°C.
“As discussed, smaller quantities of these items should be stored in the top part of the fridge, with the bulk of the items stored in the main fridge which was operating below 8°C.”
The report said that during the visit on Thursday, December 5, inspectors discovered yoghurt and cream in fridges that had both passed their “Use By” dates.
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The report also noted numerous areas of the premises were “dirty” and fell below the overall standards expected, including a wash hand basin and taps, and fridge door seals.
Some areas were identified as being difficult to clean “due to their condition” and the business was ordered to make the necessary repairs to bring them up to standard.
Inspectors found unwashed vegetables and salad items were stored at the top of the double fridge and that sanitiser was being diluted incorrectly, creating a risk of being “ineffective.”
Opening and closing checks were not being ticked and fridge and freezer temperature checks had not been completed since November 3.
It was also recommended that both directors and key food handlers undertake formal food hygiene training along with separate food allergen training.
Out of the criteria assessed on the day, compliance with food hygiene and safety procedures was rated “generally satisfactory”, compliance with structural/cleaning requirements was rated “improvements necessary” and confidence in management/control procedures was rated “major improvement necessary”.
This gave the establishment an overall rating of one star with “major improvement necessary”.
In response to the report, a spokesperson for The Goods In said: “We have always carried a five-star rating since opening.
“The food handling side of the inspection was fine but there were some issues with the building maintenance.
“The major one was around paperwork which gives us an automatic one-star rating.
“We have been in talks with inspectors who have been really helpful.
“They are due to visit again this week and we have dealt with all the issues raised in the report.”
Regarding the out-of-date food, the spokesperson explained that the restaurant had been closed over the weekend so when the inspection took place, the food was “ready to be thrown out”.
They added: “We’re constantly checking and maintaining good standards.”