Spoiled rice and peas with faecal bacteria: Fines for Basel restaurant operators
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During hygiene inspections, employees of the food inspectorate encountered major problems several times at a Basel restaurant. The Basel public prosecutor’s office has now imposed fines on the two operators for misconduct in 2023.
The restaurant in question was not as clean as it was here. The employees obviously did not place much value on hygiene.
Symbol image: Andrea Tina Stalder
When restaurants are inspected, missing or incompletely filled out forms, for example for temperature checks, are often criticized, but sometimes hygiene deficiencies are also clearly evident in the quality of the food. As a recent penal order from the Basel public prosecutor’s office shows, there were massive deficiencies at one Basel restaurant at least last year.
Some of the samples of rice, beetroot and soup were spoiled or the limit values for staphylococci and enterobacteria were exceeded. The structural conditions are also clearly not ideal: there is no hot water in one of the kitchens, dirt is accumulating on a work surface due to a lack of grouting, and the grouting on a stainless steel surface is already coming loose.
Rice and chickpeas contained faecal bacteria above the guideline value
The first inspection took place in January 2023: Several mandatory inspection lists were not visible or not updated. The employees also received no hygiene training. An ice cream machine was dirty and the inspectors found contamination in the rims.
Even during a follow-up inspection in August 2023, the temperature control of the refrigerators was inadequate. Accumulations of dirt were still found in the kitchen. Several food samples were contaminated with feces above the permitted guideline value: mushrooms, lentils, rice, couscous and chickpeas. The food inspectors classified the findings as a “major risk” to the health of the guests and ordered that the defects be “remedied immediately”.
Restaurant is still open
The inspectors also criticized wet drinking glasses that were stacked one inside the other, which encouraged germ growth. In addition, the screw on a falafel machine was dirty. It is currently unclear whether further defects have been reported since autumn 2023: the restaurant is still open.
For the period from January to August 2023, the authorities assume that there are two operators responsible: one will receive a fine of 2,000 francs for violating the Food Act, the other a fine of 1,000 francs. In addition, both must pay the usual fee for a penalty order of 200 francs.
No appeal was lodged against the penalty orders, which became final in August 2024. The fees imposed on the food inspectors for the inspections are not mentioned in the penalty orders.
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Spoiled Rice and Peas with Faecal Bacteria: Fines for Basel Restaurant Operators
During a series of hygiene inspections, the food inspectorate encountered major problems at a Basel restaurant, leading to fines for the two operators due to misconduct in 2023.
[Symbol image: Andrea Tina Stalder]
Hygiene Deficiencies and Spoiled Food
When restaurants are inspected, it’s not uncommon to find issues such as missing or incomplete forms for temperature checks. However, in this case, the Basel restaurant exhibited severe hygiene deficiencies, including spoiled food. The public prosecutor’s office has now imposed fines on the two operators for their misconduct.
Spoiled Samples and Exceeded Limit Values
Some samples of rice, beetroot, and soup were found to be spoiled, while others exceeded the limit values for staphylococci and enterobacteria. The structural conditions of the kitchen were also subpar, with no hot water in one kitchen, dirt accumulating on a work surface due to a lack of grouting, and loose grouting on a stainless steel surface.
Rice and Chickpeas Contained Faecal Bacteria Above the Guideline Value
The first inspection took place in January 2023, revealing several mandatory inspection lists that were not visible or updated. Employees had not received hygiene training, and an ice cream machine was found to be dirty with contamination in the rims. Even during a follow-up inspection in August 2023, the temperature control of the refrigerators was inadequate, and accumulations of dirt were still found in the kitchen. Several food samples were contaminated with faeces above the permitted guideline value, including mushrooms, lentils, rice, couscous, and chickpeas. The food inspectors classified the findings as a “major risk” to the health of the guests and ordered that the defects be “remedied immediately”.
Restaurant Remains Open Despite Deficiencies
Despite the severe deficiencies found during the inspections, the restaurant remains open. The inspectors also criticized wet drinking glasses that were stacked one inside the other, encouraging germ growth. Additionally, the screw on a falafel machine was found to be dirty. It is currently unclear whether further defects have been reported since autumn 2023.
Fines Imposed on Restaurant Operators
For the period from January to August 2023, the authorities assume that there are two operators responsible, with one receiving a fine of 2,000 francs and the other receiving a fine of 1,000 francs.
This incident highlights the importance of
Restaurant operators after testing revealed that their rice and peas contained faecal bacteria levels exceeding the permissible limits.
Spoiled Rice and Peas with Faecal Bacteria: Fines for Basel Restaurant Operators
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1.2 Rice and chickpeas contained faecal bacteria above the guideline value
* 1.3 Restaurant is still open
Spoiled Rice and Peas with Faecal Bacteria: Fines for Basel Restaurant Operators
In a shocking discovery, employees of the food inspectorate uncovered major problems at a Basel restaurant during hygiene inspections. The Basel public prosecutor’s office has now imposed fines on the
