A food shop operator in Hayes has been fined over £3,700 after Hillingdon Council officers discovered an unidentifiable animal head in his store’s freezer.
Jean Bitulu, the owner of John Foods located in Unit 7 of Hayes Shopping Centre, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 10 September. He admitted to failing to ensure the traceability of food products, in violation of food safety and hygiene regulations.
The court heard that on 19 July 2023, an environmental health officer and a food safety officer from Hillingdon Council made an unannounced visit to the shop as part of a routine inspection. During their inspection, they uncovered dried black smoked fish with mould, frozen grubs and insects, and the head of an unknown animal. This was later identified through forensic analysis as the head of an African bush pig, a product not permitted for sale in the UK.
Bitulu failed to produce any receipts or invoices for the food products. When asked about the source of the items, he explained that a woman had walked into his shop with the products in a suitcase and asked how much he would pay for them.
The court was told that other items of frozen fish were also found in the store, none of which were labelled to indicate their origin or contents. Due to the lack of traceability, the council officers removed the food from the premises, deeming it unfit for sale.
The court also heard that Bitulu had previously received warnings from the council regarding food hygiene violations in both 2021 and 2022. In his defence, it was claimed that the items were intended for personal consumption and were not meant for sale. The court was also informed that the shop has since ceased trading.
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, expressed concern over the case, stating: “This is a shocking example of a local business flouting regulations which are in place to keep everybody safe. Buying stock of unknown provenance out of the suitcase of a passer-by is as far from safe, or sensible practice for a food business as you can get.
“The food hygiene and safety regulations serve to protect the interests – and wellbeing – of consumers and this case highlights why they’re required. We fully support our local businesses and want them to succeed so the borough can thrive economically but we also won’t hesitate to take action where people try and side-step the rules.”
Bitulu received a fine of £492, reduced for his early guilty plea, and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £197, along with prosecution costs of £3,026.25. A forfeiture order was also issued for the destruction of the seized items.
For more information about Hillingdon Council’s food hygiene inspections or to report suspected food crime, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/food-hygiene.
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