Erith Pizza Hut so dirty even items cleaned in dishwasher are a health hazard

7:00am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News By Alan Woods

Pizza Hut in Bexley Road, Erith. Pizza Hut in Bexley Road, Erith.

THE Pizza Hut takeaway in Erith is so dirty that even equipment coming out of the dishwasher is considered a health hazard, according to an inspection report.

A Bexley Council inspector found a further 16 areas and items inside the takeaway, in Bexley Road, to be unclean and at risk of contaminating food.

These included items used in the production of almost every pizza such as the pizza oven, the equipment tubs, the vegetable slicer and the fridges and freezers.

Even the telephone was so dirty it was considered to be a risk.

As a result, the restaurant was issued with an official food hygiene rating of zero, the lowest possible.

The food hygiene inspection, which was carried out at the premises on November 12 last year, also found the takeaway had failed to comply with health and safety procedures.

An incorrect temperature setting on the refrigerator storing the pizza toppings meant the foods were likely to encourage the growth of food poisoning bacteria.

Rules say the toppings must be stored at less than 8C but by 10am on the day of the visit, the temperature inside the fridge was 15C.

The floor, walls, ceiling, doors and staff toilets were all found to be in a dirty condition and staff were ordered to clean these to comply with structural requirements.

A Pizza Hut spokeswoman said: "This particular outlet was an isolated incident that has subsequently significantly improved. "It has since been revisited by an environmental health officer, who was pleased with the hygiene standards now being maintained and the delivery restaurant will be formally reassessed in the coming months.

"Health and safety is of the utmost importance to Pizza Hut and we are committed to maintaining high standards in all our branches."

Food hygiene ratings in Bexley

Pizza Hut in Erith is one of 50 premises inspected by Bexley Council to receive the lowest grading of zero, meaning urgent improvement is necessary. The council has inspected 742 outlets serving food in the borough and seven per cent have received the lowest rating.

What happens next?

Bexley Council’s inspector made a total of 13 recommendations following the inspection, which Pizza Hut must rectify before a re-inspection can be requested.

These included suggestions mops, buckets and brooms should be stored in cupboard separate from food preparation areas and disused items should be removed to minimise surfaces where dirt can collect.

The inspector concluded the report saying: "There was no evidence on site that works have been scheduled.

"In my opinion the poor structure is contributing to the poor standard of cleaning observed during the inspection."

Comments(16)

PaulErith says...
10:12am Wed 9 Jan 13

I've eaten in there loads of times and never been ill, and know of lots of other people that have had no issues. In fact, I've not heard of anybody getting ill from eating there. Anyway, I prefer Favorite Chicken next door.

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the wall says...
11:00am Wed 9 Jan 13

Who eats this rubbish food anyway........^^^^^ Oh I see.


So the manager and area manager will be in trouble. Why was the clearing rota not being followed? Why were the twice daily checks not been followed by the manager? Why has the area manager not seen these issues when they visit?

Looks like someone was trying to up their profit/ loss % by cutting corners on staff cleaning

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Gypo.Joe says...
11:27am Wed 9 Jan 13

Fast food from anywhere is a big no no in my book. Fast food from Eriff is just asking for the sh1ts.

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Lord Erastus Theobald Piggott says...
12:27pm Wed 9 Jan 13

Pizza = Rubbish

Rubbish = Erith

Happy = Erithians

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derekhope says...
1:19pm Wed 9 Jan 13

I get really fed up with the comments like the one from the Pizza Hut spokesperson. Pizza Hut should close the place down, do a proper deep clean, retrain the staff, sort all the problems from top to bottom and reopen with special offers and invite the public to see their nice new clean premises. And of course, admit the failings. Although it would give me confidence if Bexley Council simply closed the place down for a month, charged £5000 for a reinspection and didn't allow it to open untill all matters of concern are addressed. Whether or not you get the runs after eating takeaway food is not the issue, it's a case of real and proper hygiene and customers having the confidence that they are eating clean food, correctly prepared. The public should expect no less.

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oydy says...
1:34pm Wed 9 Jan 13

That top harf of bexley around barnhurst and northumberland heath were this shop is has allways been rough ,,
youl find erith town center is a mile or two down the road away from the rif raf of barnhurst ,,they should shut this filthy shop down ,,,,,,ASAP,,,,,

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PaulErith says...
1:43pm Wed 9 Jan 13

oydy wrote:
That top harf of bexley around barnhurst and northumberland heath were this shop is has allways been rough ,, youl find erith town center is a mile or two down the road away from the rif raf of barnhurst ,,they should shut this filthy shop down ,,,,,,ASAP,,,,,
You have to be joking? The Heath and Barnehurst isn't remotely rough! Erith has always had a bad repudation.

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Erith chap says...
2:16pm Wed 9 Jan 13

A lot of hate for Erith, to be fair to my beloved home almost everywhere in Bexley nowadays is a s*hole.

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madras says...
3:50pm Wed 9 Jan 13

derekhope wrote:
I get really fed up with the comments like the one from the Pizza Hut spokesperson. Pizza Hut should close the place down, do a proper deep clean, retrain the staff, sort all the problems from top to bottom and reopen with special offers and invite the public to see their nice new clean premises. And of course, admit the failings. Although it would give me confidence if Bexley Council simply closed the place down for a month, charged £5000 for a reinspection and didn't allow it to open untill all matters of concern are addressed. Whether or not you get the runs after eating takeaway food is not the issue, it's a case of real and proper hygiene and customers having the confidence that they are eating clean food, correctly prepared. The public should expect no less.
Agreed - rarely do you read that somewhere has been closed as a result of inspection - should be the first thing they do...

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cherished says...
6:48pm Wed 9 Jan 13

We used to get an Indian takeaway from a Bexley restaurant until they got a zero rating... Now just home cooked food for us as you cannot trust anywhere.

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lollie,erith says...
10:36pm Wed 9 Jan 13

North Heath is rough, a complete dump. I thought the Pizza Hut looks manky from the outside let alone inside

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smurf4568 says...
11:13am Fri 11 Jan 13

So why hasn't it been closed down?

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Bestbaz says...
3:37pm Fri 11 Jan 13

If only Bexley council named and shamed all zero rated restaurents in the area on their website that may make the restaurent managers think !! ........worth a request under the FoI Act !!

Or could we not see on Bexley Council web site a list of all restaurents in the area with their rating

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highway warrior says...
4:42pm Fri 11 Jan 13

It is there on their website
http://ratings.food.
gov.uk/advanced-sear
ch?refla=72dkeZtqevU
%3d
you can see food ratings for restaurants in Bexley......
Incidentally Favourite Chicken next door scored a inspiring 1/5
or try Chivas Chicken also a 0/5

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cookster says...
10:53am Sun 13 Jan 13

Interesting website - I've certainly now blacklisted a few places on the back of it.

Incidentally, I wonder how up to date the information is - if a business does get its act together and is reinspected I hope the website puts this info up there in good time.

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reptiles says...
8:41am Tue 22 Jan 13

Used this place once as kids wanted pizza and although i can walk to the broadway one they will not deliver, this one which is much further away is the only 1 that would deliver - until welling opened! which is even further away. I do remember complaining that the food was not hot, but it was a few yrs ago. Unfortunately like a lot of shops on the heath not many of them look clean and inviting. However i cant understand WHY the inspector did not just shut it down! Surely if the place is NOT upto standard it should be closed until they can prove it ticks all the boxes.

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