Takeaway customer got food poisoning

Zulfiqar Ali pleaded guilty to three charges related to food safety and information regulations, between May and September 2025, as well as admitting three similar charges on behalf of Al-Shazan Ltd, based in Stratford Road

At a hearing on Thursday (June 4), Birmingham Magistrates Court was told a customer had gone into premises and ordered a chicken burger.

But they were then taken to hospital, and kept in overnight, when an infection was confirmed.

Remus Cozma, prosecuting on behalf of Birmingham City Council, said environmental health officers visited the takeaway on April 8 last year and observed failings around meat being kept below recommended temperature.

Officers also noted cooked meat being stored next to raw meat, risking cross contamination as well as raw meat being handled without gloves or hand-washing being observed.

Ali, who is the director of the business, was also unable to provide accurate information on ingredients and allergens contained within items on his menu.

A schedule of works was drawn up to be carried out to rectify the deficiencies but further inspections revealed documentation and food allergy information was still not being produced properly.

Mr Cozma said: “Despite the repeated opportunities to comply, he failed to do so. There had been ongoing communications.

“But despite all of this, the failures continued until September 2025. There has been a clear, flagrant disregard of the law.”

Al-Shazan currently has the lowest food hygiene rating score of 1 which was given following an inspection in July 2024.

Sukhdip Randhawa, defending, said no evidence had been provided the food which allegedly resulted in someone being hospitalised had been tested to confirm it came from the takeaway.

He added the company had employed an independent auditor to undertake inspections and remedy the issues that had been highlighted while procedures have been overhauled.

Subsequent inspections showed there were no longer any issues with cross contamination.

Mr Randhawa said information on ingredients and food allergens was being kept, but it was accepted they weren’t provided at the time the issues arose.

He also said there has been a recent inspection and they are awaiting confirmation of a reclassification of their food hygiene rating.

Mr Randhawa said: “There is clear evidence that rather than ignoring concerns, the business was proactive in undertaking change.

“Issues were resolved and the business still is trading. You have cases before the courts where premises are closed because of an imminent risk to health. This is not one of those cases. There was not even a suggestion they voluntarily close the premises down.

“There is no previous convictions. This is the first time they have come to the court for anything at all. The shop is not making money and it is his desire to sell the shop.”

Magistrates fined both Ali and the business £1,000 each with both also having to pay £400 surcharges. A total of £1,500 costs will also have to be paid.