Chinese takeaway given zero-star ranking after storing cooked rice on soiled mattress sheet outdoors

Inspectors discovered cooked rice on a grubby bed sheet in the yard of a Chinese takeaway in Leicester.

This was just one of several issues flagged by Leicester City Council food hygiene inspectors during their visit to Aashish Chinese King on Melton Road.

Due to their findings, the takeaway was slapped with a zero-star food hygiene rating.

Inspector Adele Lee visited on August 27 this year and instructed takeaway bosses to “cease [the] practice immediately” upon discovering the rice.

The inspector cautioned the owners that they must not keep cooked rice for more than a day before getting rid of it during their visit, reports Leicestershire Live.

Inspectors noted that the takeaway was washing chicken – potentially spreading harmful bacteria through splashing – and that open food was stored in a yard shed.

Opened eggs were also spotted on top of a microwave, sparking concerns that they might “drip” onto surfaces, while cooked foods such as Manchurian balls and chicken were kept at room temperature during the visit.

Ms Lee also found that the kitchen layout meant it couldn’t be effectively cleaned due to its size.

The takeaway’s handwash basin lacked hot water, and the kitchen’s cleaning standards were “generally poor”.

Extractor fans were dirty and greasy, while walls and cooking equipment were covered with foil, leading the inspector to instruct the owners to remove the foil from the walls and kitchen surfaces.

Three of the chopping boards were also discovered to be filthy during the inspection, with the report highlighting “excessive” amounts of rubbish piling up in the takeaway’s back yard.

Food hygiene understanding amongst staff was deemed “inadequate” and “very poor” by the inspector, with owners told to bring in a food consultant to provide on-site training for workers.

Garry Scrivens, a health and food safety expert at Scrivens Safety Solutions and a consultant to Aashish Chinese King, said the takeaway was “new to the food industry.”

He added in a statement: “It had a number of teething problems when it opened. Since the council’s inspection, they have appointed me as their consultant and have made many improvements to ensure they comply with the law.

“They are committed to maintaining high standards and are working closely with the council”.