MACHYNLLETH’S Centre for Alternative Technology has been fined £13,000 after admitting a string of food hygiene breaches including failing to protect food from flies and having dirty food utensils and equipment.

CAT admitted ten charges of breaching food hygiene regulations with magistrates hearing that an environmental health officer had discovered dead flies in salad dressing which had been left uncovered and a build up of dirt, grease and food debris on surfaces in the main kitchen.

During a routine inspection in September 2016, the officer discovered that floor coverings, wall coverings, storage shelving, the underside of preparation surfaces, the extraction canopy and the equipment washing area were dirty, as was the structure of the walk-in chiller.

Utensils and equipment were also found to be dirty and damaged, with the door seals of the chiller found to be mouldy and utensils including plastic jugs, bowls and an ice cream scoop were dirty and damaged and couldn’t be properly cleaned or disinfected.

Ingredients had not been stored properly and were not protected from contamination, with the inspector finding that ingredients had been stored in open packets, as well as food being stored on the floor, despite flies being present in the kitchen.

Raw ingredients and ready-to-eat food was also being stored together.

Flies were seen landing on preparation surfaces with a ready-to-eat salad dressing contained a number of dead flies after being stored uncovered in the food handling area.

Magistrates heard that while CAT had a food safety management system, it had not been implemented or maintained.

CAT Charity Ltd was fined a total of £13,000 for the ten offences, but will also have to pay prosecution costs of £1,596 and a court surcharge of £100.

The charges included failing to keep the premises clean, failing to ensure that utensils and equipment were clean and in good repair, putting food on the market that was unfit for human consumption, failing to protect ingredients and food from contamination, and failing to protect against pests.

Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson, Powys Council’s Cabinet member for environmental health, said: “food businesses that prepare and serve food to the public have a responsibility to ensure that their premises comply with food hygiene regulations.

“In this instance, the Centre for Alternative Technology did not meet the required standards, which fell well below acceptable levels.

“The action taken by our environmental health officers reflects the severity of the conditions found and the potential risk to health.

“All food business operators in the county should take note of the penalties they may face when they do not comply with food hygiene regulations. I would like to remind members of the public to check Food Hygiene Ratings before choosing where to eat out or to buy food from.”A spokesperson for CAT said that following the inspection in September, action had been taken.They said: "This court case relates to an inspection that took place in September 2016, which led to a zero rating for the CAT cafe."We immediately set about making improvements, acting decisively to address each issue raised by Environmental Health."As a result, we have since been awarded a level three rating, and are continuing to work on improving this with a view to gaining a top rating."