Wigan takeaway in the dock over alleged health and safety breaches

Accusations of multiple serious breaches of food safety and hygiene have been levelled against a business and a person in connection with The Rice Bowl on Ormskirk Road.

Both LCC Food Limited and Wen Lin face 13 charges.

Among the shocking and lengthy list of accusations they are facing are claims that there was uncovered chicken in the sink, food was stored in containers previously used for raw meat and the ceiling in the kitchen was covered in plastic bags.

There were shortcomings in staff training, the food preparation areas and equipment were filthy and the business had no food management plan in place, prosecutors also say.

The case was supposed to begin at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Friday but proceedings have been adjourned until May 14. The charges against the firm and Lin refer to events in 2019 and 2020.

Both face 12 charges of failing to comply with EU provisions concerned food safety and hygiene.

Seven of these refer to events in November 2019.

The other five have matching dates and identical details but the LCC charge sheet refers to April 2019 whereas Lin’s relates to April 2020.

It is almost certain that this will change when proceedings get under way as one of the charges refers to the company failing to keep a suitable health and safety diary since a reopening in March 2020.

There is also a charge of failing to improve electrical safety in the premises after an order had been made to do so.

The adjournment is part of the justice system’s ongoing efforts to deal with the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on its work.

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