Environmental health inspectors have given a zero hygiene rating to the kitchen at Llanfechain Church in Wales Primary in Powys after finding mouse droppings and no hot water. The kitchen was described as "unacceptably dirty and cluttered" and in need of urgent improvement.
During the inspection, carried out in June, mouse droppings were found on a kitchen shelf and in the store room. The lack of hot water had not been reported or escalated, and no temporary measures had been implemented by the village school.
Poor hygiene practices noted
At no time during the inspection did the member of staff wash their hands, it was noted. They also put gloves on over unwashed hands, which was described in the report as very poor hygiene practice.
The inspector said: "I explained to the staff member that they must use warm water to wash their hands and as a short-term measure to use the kettle to ensure the wash basin was filled with warm water. I did this to allow myself to wash my hands. At no time did the staff member wash their hands with warm water and I noted she had put gloves and was serving the food. Putting gloves on unwashed hands is very poor hygiene practice. Retrain the staff member of effective hand hygiene."
Inspector's findings and required improvements
The inspector was "concerned to note that there was no hot water supplied to the kitchen". The school was told to ensure there is a supply of hot and cold or appropriately mixed running water to the kitchen. The wall below the wash basin is damaged and needs repair to leave a non-absorbent and cleanable surface.
The report stated: "During the inspection mouse droppings were found on a kitchen shelf and in the store room. Food businesses must take all reasonable precautions to prevent food pests, namely rats, mice, cockroaches and flying insects gaining entry into food storage and preparation areas. This is to prevent the contamination of foodstuffs." The school must ensure that a pest controller visits to treat for the pests.
The report also noted that the kitchen "was very cluttered and unacceptably dirty" and while cooking is not done there, equipment is stored and sinks and basins are used. "The kitchen must be maintained in a clean condition and to aid cleaning the clutter must be removed. Undertake a deep clean in the kitchen," the report added.
On food safety and hygiene and cleaning, there is "some major non-compliance" with statutory obligations. Confidence in management and control procedures was low, with "significantly varying records of compliance, poor appreciation of hazards and control measures, no food safety management procedures, and some reluctance in recognising or accepting the need for food safety and hygiene control procedures". Although the school has a document "food safety management system", staff had failed to implement it.
Improvements needed and further action
Inspectors judged that improvement was necessary for hygienic food handling, including handling of food, preparation, cooking, reheating, cooling and storage. Major improvement was judged necessary for cleanliness and condition of facilities, including having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control. Major improvement was also judged necessary for management of food safety, such as system or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat.
The school has been warned: "As a matter of urgency review your procedures and retrain your staff to ensure controls are implemented." The inspector linked the school to advice on preventing the risk of E.coli, which it is recommended is followed. Powys Council and the Church in Wales were approached for comment.
