Swindon deli believes one star hygiene rating is ‘unfair’

Paradise Deli of Gorse Hill has been open for around four months and recently was inspected by the Food Standards Agency.

The report, from Thursday, January 12, stated that major improvement was necessary in the management of food safety, and improvement was necessary in the hygienic handling of food.

The category states that systems or checks should be in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, there is evidence staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained.

It resulted in the new business being slapped with a lowly one-star hygiene rating.

Cricklade Road’s newest addition was judged to have generally satisfactory cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, which includes having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control to enable good food hygiene.

The kitchen at the Paradise Deli, located on Cricklade Road. (Image: Newsquest)

Yet this ruling has been viewed as being unjust by those that run the business and own the building as they argue that the report has not considered certain factors.

“There should be a better keeping of files with a daily record being made of how things work,” said the landlord.

The owners have had to return to Turkey after their home was destroyed in the recent earthquake. (Image: Newsquest)

“They have only recently taken over the shop and many things have had to change and a language barrier exists with the paperwork.

“The scoring is unfair for these reasons and as anyone can see, the place is not dirty.”

The landlord, who wished not to be named, spoke to the Adver about the situation as Paradise Deli’s owner was in his home country of Turkey following the recent earthquake disaster.

“Because of the earthquake in Turkey, the owner is currently away because their home collapsed,” he revealed.

The shelves at Paradise Deli are well stocked and clearly organised. (Image: Newsquest)

“They have lost some relatives so they could not attend to the rating as they should have done.”

The group maintains that the shop is run properly and will take on board the judgement, aiming to welcome a new and improved rating soon.

“This has come in at a bad time as they are hardworking people and a family-run business,” he said.

“The agency did give one star but they have also told the owners what to do to gain further stars.

“When the owners return they are going to review and make changes, correcting whatever is on the list that needs to be done.”