Birmingham City Council stated there was an ‘imminent risk’ to public health
Muffin Break at the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham
Mice have been climbing the walls of Muffin Break in the Bullring prompting inspectors to declare a hygiene emergency.
Birmingham City Council officers found ‘extensive’ droppings at the unit on the upper floor of the shopping centre after receiving a complaint from a customer.
The authority subsequently issued a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order (HEPO) notice to operators MB Cafes, based in Leicester.
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But at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today, Thursday, April 10, the council confirmed a schedule of works had since been completed and there was no longer an ‘imminent risk’ to public health.
Environmental health officer Karen Boyal said that on Sunday, April 6 the council received a complaint from a member of the public reporting ‘rodent faecal matter on the floor in the dining area’.
She confirmed she attended two days later on Tuesday, April 8.
Muffin Break at the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham
Ms Boyal took magistrates through photographs of the premises and highlighted the issues found.
She said mouse droppings were present in a number of locations including on the floor of the pot wash area, in the dough mixer, around ingredient containers, behind a tub of chocolate drops, in the servery area as well as ‘extensive’ droppings in the dining area.
At one point Ms Boyal pointed out a photograph of a wall socket and said: “Mice are very good climbers.
“There are black specs on the socket. Those are mouse droppings.
“It shows they are climbing within the premises.”
Ms Boyal confirmed she had reattended today at 11.25am and said: “The work has been done to remove any health risk in the severy, prep area and dining area.
“There is more required in a satellite storage area but I don’t believe there is an imminent health risk still remaining.”
Magistrates agreed that a health risk existed at the time the HEPO notice was issued on Tuesday and that it had now been addressed.
MB Cafes did not send a representative to the hearing.