African food cash and carry owner fined €30,000 for hygiene breaches

The operator of a Dublin cash and carry which specialises in African food produce has been given fines totalling €30,000 for serious breaches of hygiene standards.

John Johnson, originally from Nigeria, had been prosecuted at Dublin District Court by the HSE on six counts of breaking hygiene of foodstuff regulations, at the Bimdoc Cash and Carry, which is located at Jamestown Business Park, in Finglas.

Senior environmental health officer Chris Counihan carried out an inspection at the wholesaler on Sept 20 last year.

Yesterday, he told Judge John Coughlan that the business was involved in the sale of “African food products” but had failed to meet hygiene standards.

He also furnished the judge with photographic evidence.

As a result of the health inspector’s visit to the Bimdoc Cash and Carry, the HSE had decided to prosecute Johnson, who was issued with court summonses in February. He faced six charges, including: failing to keep the food premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition; not having materials for hygienic drying at wash basins; and not having adequate provisions for storage of food waste, non-edible products, and other refuse.

The wholesaler operator also failed to protect food at all stages of production, processing and distribution “against any contamination likely to render the food unfit for human consumption”.

Another charge stated that Mr Johnson did not have proper procedures in place to control pests and failed to take adequate steps to prevent domestic animals from having access to places where food was stored.

Johnson had entered guilty pleas to the charges in June and yesterday he appeared again before the court where the HSE’s solicitor, Adrian Lennon, invited Judge Coughlan to finalise the case.

Judge Coughlan imposed fines of €5,000 per offence — totalling €30,000 — and ruled that each must be paid within five months.

He also ordered five-day jail terms in default of payment of the monetary penalties.

Finalising the case, he also ordered Johnson to pay the HSE’s legal costs in bringing the case.