TWO takeaway managers in Newport have been fined after being convicted of a string of food hygiene offences.

Imran Anwar, who ran Mani's Grill on Charles Street, in the city centre pleaded guilty to 15 food breaches of food hygiene rules at Cwmbran Magistrates' Court.

The offences were discovered by the council's environmental offences inspectors during a routine inspection in August 2012.

Breaches included a lack of training of staff in the food safety management system, failing to store food under suitable temperatures and failing to ensure food was protected from contamination.

A further visit in October revealed there were still a number of breaches of the food hygiene regulations and in December it was noted Anwar had failed to comply with two hygiene improvement notices.

He was fined £100 each for ten offences with no separate penalty for the other five.

He was ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £15. The business has since closed down.

In a separate case, Farzand Ali pleaded guilty to three offences in relation to The Chicken Cottage, on Commercial Road, Pill.

These included failing to ensure food premises were kept clean. The building is now rented out to another company.

Cardiff magistrates fined him £1,800 and ordered him to pay a contribution towards prosecution costs of £2,000 as well as a victim surcharge of £120.

Councillor Gail Giles, Newport City Council’s cabinet member for licensing and statutory functions, said: “Consumers need to have confidence that food businesses are safe. Officers monitor food outlets in the city to ensure they meet the legal standards and where contraventions are found, the council will take action to protect the public.

“We will also continue to raise awareness among food businesses in Newport about the importance of food safety.

“We recommend consumers check out the hygiene rating for a food business at ratings.food.gov.uk."