Rochford District Council has taken swift action to protect public health after serious hygiene concerns were found at a food business operating from a van in Little Wakering.
The business, trading as “The Best Kebab” and parked on Barrow Hall Road, has been prohibited from trading following inspections by both Essex Police and Council Environmental Health Officers.
Police officers had raised concerns after finding the van in an extremely poor and unsanitary condition. Following this, Council officers carried out a full food hygiene inspection and discovered a number of serious risks to public health, including a lack of proper handwashing facilities, unsafe food storage, and food being kept at incorrect temperatures.
Given the immediate risk to public health, Council officers served a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice, stopping the business from trading straight away. This was later confirmed by Southend Magistrates’ Court, which issued a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order and awarded full legal costs of £2,517.41 to the Council.
Food safety regulations exist to protect residents from harm. When food is not prepared or stored safely, it can cause serious illness. Strict hygiene standards and enforcement are in place to make sure that everyone in our district can eat with confidence, knowing that food businesses are operating safely.
Councillor Mike Webb, Rochford District Council’s Chair of the Communities, Wellbeing & Housing Committee, said: “This case shows exactly why we have food safety standards and food hygiene inspections in place. The conditions found inside this van were completely unacceptable and posed a real danger to anyone buying food there.
“Food safety isn’t about red tape, it’s about protecting people. When businesses don’t meet basic hygiene standards, they put the public at risk, and we will always act quickly to stop that from happening. I’d like to thank our officers and the police for working together to keep our district safe.”
Residents who have concerns about the cleanliness or safety of a food business in the district can report it directly to the Council’s Environmental Health Team.
Reports can be made online through our dedicate food regulations webpage.