Istanbul Shawarma was given the 1-star rating when inspectors visited on May 10 this year

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A Redcar takeaway has been slapped with a 1-star food hygiene rating. Istanbul Shawarma, which is located on Redcar High Street, received the report when inspectors visited the venue on May 10 this year.

The takeaway's 1-star rating is a significant drop from its last inspection, when it was awarded a Food Hygiene Rating of four (good) on October 20 in 2020. Its ratings now show the venue requires improvement in both h ygienic food handling and the c leanliness and condition of facilities and building, and a major improvement in the m anagement of food safety.

Major findings from the inspection found that the "display chiller in the service area, presenting various salad items, was failing to maintain satisfactory temperatures for the storage of high-risk foods" and that the venue was using "the same type of food storage containers (Heinz mayonnaise tubs) for both raw chicken and ready-to-eat foods."

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When it came to food hygiene and safety procedures, the inspection found that these salad items were "being stored in excess of 21 °C. (This issue was highlighted on the previous inspection)." The inspector also noted how the garlic sauce was "being stored in excess of 18°C."

There were a number of reasons as to why foods were "at risk of contamination from food poisoning pathogens including E.coli" and these included:

In terms of structural requirements, it was discovered that "all areas, and the equipment used, where food is prepared and stored were not kept clean." Another point was made regarding the water storage heater under the sink, which the inspector said is "not adequate to supply more than one outlet at any one time. At the time of the visit, there was no hot water to wash the basin in the main kitchen."

The inspection found that Istanbul Shawarma was "unable to demonstrate that chilled storage units were being monitored" and that management had "not identified all steps in the activities of your food business that are critical to ensuring food safety, and have not put into place effective measures to control these steps."

Teesside Live contacted Istanbul Shawarma for a statement, and they declined to comment.

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