Would chew believe it ...

Would chew believe it ...

Sep 10 2004

South London Press

A PIZZA company had to fork out £3,000 after one of its customers found chewing gum in his meal.

Pizza Castle Ltd, which traded as Dominos Pizza in Kennington, was taken to court by Lambeth council who investigated the customer's complaint.

The distraught man had contacted the town hall's food safety team who sent the pizza for analysis.

They also interviewed the customer and inspected the restaurant, on Newington Butts.

On Wednesday, August 25, representatives for Pizza Castle Ltd appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court where they pleaded guilty to a food safety offence.

After hearing from the company's solicitor, the magistrates said they were satisfied a rogue employee had committed a one-off act, but the company was ultimately responsible.

Pizza Castle Ltd was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs to Lambeth council.

Lambeth's executive member for the environment, Councillor Clare Whelan, said: "The council's food safety team - as guardians of the public's health and safety - carries out a very important job.

"They deal with a number of food complaint cases every year, but thankfully cases like this are very rare."

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