A Derby takeaway was forced to close temporarily after food safety inspectors discovered a prayer mat stored on a surface designated for salad preparation and mouse droppings scattered throughout the premises.
Arabian Grill on St Peters Street received a damning one-star hygiene rating following the inspection on April 9, which revealed pest infestations and food stored at dangerously low temperatures.
Council officers found the prayer mat alongside numerous other violations during their visit, prompting the business to voluntarily shut for one night to conduct emergency cleaning operations.
The shocking discoveries came despite previous warnings from inspectors who had visited the establishment in January.
A Derby takeaway was forced to close temporarily after food safety inspectors discovered a prayer mat stored on a surface designated for salad preparation and mouse droppings scattered throughout the premises
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Inspectors uncovered mouse droppings in multiple locations, including on shelves where food packaging and plates were stored, creating serious contamination risks.
The council's environmental health team found droppings at floor-wall junctions and near plates beneath the servery counter.
Most alarmingly, the bain-marie equipment used to keep food warm was disconnected from electricity, resulting in lamb being stored at just 28.4C and chicken at 27.1C - temperatures far below the safe minimum and within the danger zone for bacterial growth.
Officers also discovered pizza dough left in a tray on the floor and noted the business was illegally providing plastic cutlery to dining-in customers.
A January inspection had already highlighted serious concerns, with inspectors warning that "great attention" was needed for cleaning in hard-to-reach areas beneath fixtures and fittings.
Despite these earlier warnings, an April visit revealed the pest problem had persisted, with the council spokesperson stating: "I visited the above premises on Wednesday, April 9.
"As I began to look around, it was disappointing to still find mouse droppings on some shelves in the servery counter where food packaging and plates were stored, posing a risk of contamination to food."
This marked the second inspection where inspectors identified an imminent risk to public health.
Following a follow-up visit on April 10, the council found improvements had been made, with the premises cleaned and no visible droppings remaining.
The council issued a stark warning about the establishment's future, saying: "I would like to remind you that the standards observed during my visit on April 9 will not be tolerated by this department."
Officials cautioned that if poor standards were discovered during future inspections, "further legal action may be taken" against the takeaway.