Mouse droppings were found all over a restaurant where food hygiene inspectors warned of an “active pest problem”.
The Good Egg at Camden Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, scored the lowest possible food hygiene score, 0/5, after. a visit on May 29.
The environmental health team at Camden Council found the Tel-Aviv inspired restaurant required ‘urgent improvement’, identifying problems with mouse droppings, a cross contamination risk with raw meat and general cleanliness problems.
It was not the first time health concerns were raised at the restaurant, which was given a 2/5 rating and told improvement was necessary on October 16, 2023, just weeks after its Camden branch opened.
In a report seen by the Ham&High, Camden Council said that mouse droppings were found at the service counter area and below the table-top fridge.
It also claims that more droppings were seen at the floor of the bar and kitchen, on the service counter and on old disused equipment.
The report stated: “You currently have an active pest problem. I recommend you carry out additional pest control checks.”
Inspectors also noted that the temperature of high risk foods stored in an open-top service refrigerator was too high and was at risk of growing food poisoning bacteria.
Raw and ready-to-eat vacuum packs were being stored near each other, risking cross contamination.
Smoked salmon was also being used at least three days beyond the use-by-date once opened.
The report also noted that the wash hand basin was not in regular use and some of the premises was poorly kept.
The Good Egg has been able to maintain high standards at its other branches - with both its Stoke Newington and Margate branches scoring the top 5/5 in their last inspections.
Camden Council was asked whether any additional action would be taken given that this is the establishment’s second poor hygiene rating since its opening, but a spokesperson has not responded.
A spokesperson for The Good Egg said: “We have paid for a revisit of an environmental health officer to return and rescore our business.
”The premises we inherited had significant structural issues which were the cause of the poor score.
“Alongside our own internal due diligence processes, all necessary remedial actions recommended by the officer were rectified within one week of this recent visit. We eagerly await a re-score imminently.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here