LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE
Hygiene Issues Discovered at Restaurants and Bars in Whitehall
Recent inspections reveal significant health and safety concerns at government dining facilities.
16 February 2025 · 07:16 UTC
These findings raise questions about food safety protocols within government facilities in Westminster.
A 2022 inspection of the Ministry of Defence restaurant at Ripley Buildings received a low food hygiene rating of one out of five.
The inspector reported a widespread mouse infestation and inadequate cleaning practices, which posed a significant risk of food contamination.
An emergency prohibition notice was issued to halt the use of a dry food store after chocolate bars and a bag of bread crumbs were found to be gnawed by mice.
An additional 2022 inspection of various facilities at the House of Commons revealed a food hygiene rating of two out of five.
This report highlighted ongoing pest issues, with mouse droppings detected in 14 separate locations, including under food preparation areas and next to storage points for chopping boards.
The inspector expressed disappointment at finding rodent droppings despite assurances of thorough kitchen cleaning prior to the assessment.
Another similar inspection in 2022 confirmed a negative rating of two out of five for a different group of House of Commons outlets, documenting related mouse issues and noting a build-up of food debris on a meat slicer’s blade.
A follow-up report in 2023 called for immediate corrective actions, citing incidents of staff placing food containers on the floor and mislabeling vacuum-packed food with an incorrect shelf life.
The Ministry of Justice was implicated in a 2022 inspection that revealed mouldy potatoes in its kitchen, while the Foreign Office reported issues with mouldy courgettes, old mouse droppings, and cleaning lapses in the same year.
The Department for International Trade also faced scrutiny in 2023 for having expired food items.
Similarly, facilities serving members of the House of Lords were reported to have issues in 2020 that included food waste and dirt on the floor.
These findings were disclosed to the Observer newspaper through the Freedom of Information Act.
In response to these reports, the House of Commons and House of Lords assert that their dining establishments now hold a five-star hygiene rating following recent inspections.
A spokesperson for the House of Commons stated that they serve thousands of customers each year and maintain robust food safety and hygiene processes, emphasizing that they act quickly to remedy any identified issues.
A spokesperson for the House of Lords indicated that they implement a comprehensive food safety management system, which is evaluated through annual inspections conducted by an independent food safety consultancy.
A government spokesperson defended the inspections, stating that the reports are outdated, with most being over two years old.
They reiterated that health and safety remains a priority and that the concerns raised at that time have been addressed, highlighting improved hygiene ratings from recent inspections.
Local authorities are tasked with inspecting food service businesses and enforcing hygiene regulations.
They have the authority to mandate corrective actions, close establishments, or pursue legal action if standards are found to be unacceptable.
Food safety inspections typically occur at intervals of up to five years, although they may occur more frequently.