Today we take a look at a Food Safety concern that was recently resolved.
Coventry food business sentenced for filthy conditions
A Coventry food business operator has been fined after pleading guilty to food hygiene offences.
Mohammed Boda, the food business operator of MoBurgri, 213 Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry pleaded guilty to the offences at Coventry Magistrates Court on 25 March 2026.
Mohammed Boda was fined a total of £504 and ordered to pay costs of £2426.75. A victim surcharge of £202 was also issued by the Court.
Food and safety officers visited the business on 13 May 2025 following receipt of a complaint about poor cleaning at the business.
During this visit officers found:
- Evidence of an extensive mouse infestation throughout the food preparation and servery areas.
- Dirty touch points such as light switches, taps and handles to equipment.
- Extremely poor cleaning throughout the food preparation areas.
- Dirty wash hand basins which were clearly not in use.
- Cooking equipment such as the fryers and griddle that were encrusted with grease and food debris and had clearly not been cleaned for some time.
- The ceiling had fallen down in the staff toilet.
- Sponges and scourers used for washing up food equipment that were covered in food and grease.
Given the very poor conditions, the business voluntarily closed and stopped trading whilst remedial works were undertaken to improve conditions. A food hygiene rating of 0 was issued.
Officers worked with the food business to ensure conditions were improved and it was safe to operate. Once this was established, the premises reopened for trading on 9th June 2025.
On 21st October 2025, MoBurgri was inspected again and based on the standards of food hygiene found, it received a food hygiene rating of 1. The Council has continued to work with the business to ensure that food safety laws are met, improvements are made and the outlet is safe.
It should be noted that improvements made post inspection do not automatically alter the food hygiene rating score, however MoBurgri has the opportunity to apply for a re-rating. Alternatively, the rating will be reviewed and updated at the next planned inspection.
During the Court hearing, Mohammed Boda pleaded guilty to offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations in respect of the following identified issues:
- Failure to keep the premises clean.
- Failure to put in place adequate procedures to control pests.
- Failure to protect food from contamination likely to render the food unfit for human consumption, injurious to health or contaminated in such a way that it would be unreasonable to expect it to be consumed in that state.
- Failure to maintain the premises in good repair and condition.
Davina Blackburn, Strategic Lead for Regulation and Communities at Coventry City Council, said:
“It is vital that people running food businesses in Coventry are running clean and safe establishments all of the time to ensure the safety of the food they sell to customers.”
“Our food and safety officers work hard at inspecting food businesses in the city. Issuing food hygiene ratings helps ensure consumers can make informed decisions on where to eat and purchase food, and we encourage them to check out their favourite businesses by going online at https://ratings.food.gov.uk/ “
Nikki Castledine, Food and Safety Manager said:
“We take a staged approach to enforcement, and that’s why prosecution is a matter of last resort.
“Wherever possible officers will always try to work with businesses offering advice and guidance but will take the necessary actions if they feel there is a risk to health.”
We would encourage all residents to report unsatisfactory food hygiene conditions found in food businesses in Coventry to ehcommercial@coventry.gov.uk or call 08085 834333.