Katy’s Cafe, which has been praised for its “10 out of 10” Sunday lunches, was told major improvement was necessary after an inspection last November.
The venue, which serves up freshly baked pies, quiches, and cakes from its home on Manor Street in Evenwood, was rated “major improvement necessary” in management of food safety and “improvement necessary” in its hygienic food handling.
While the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and the building were ranked generally satisfactory, food safety officers handed Katy’s Cafe a one-star hygiene stamp.
Now, Durham County Council has released the full food hygiene inspection report, which detailed issues with lack of food temperature recordings, out-of-date food items, and various “dirty” areas at the site.
During the inspection, open bottles of ketchup and brown sauce were being stored at room temperature, which officers said “presented a risk of bacterial growth”.
Salami, clotted cream, and pease pudding were found beyond their use-by date, which inspectors said would be deemed “unsafe” if used or sold.
The wash basin in the kitchen was blocked with dirty pans and therefore not available for use, preventing food handlers from “maintaining adequate standards of personal hygiene”.
Carrier bags were also being used to store open foods in the freezer.
Several areas that were identified at a previous inspection were also re-highlighted by inspectors. This included:
- The wash hand basin hot water supply coming from the electric wall unit was leaking and not working correctly, with staff having to turn the value on and off to be able to wash their hands
- The grouting to the tiled wall covering above the sink was greasy and needed cleaning
- Some of the shelving and benches throughout the premises were defective, exposing unsealed wood, which is not capable of being effectively cleaned
- The shelving where the food and dry stock were kept also needed decluttering and cleaning
The ovens and hobs in the kitchen were also described as dirty, as well as the lino floor covering in the kitchen, especially at floor and wall junctions and behind or below equipment.
Although the venue had a documented food safety management system – namely the Safer Food Better Business pack – it had not been filled in.
It was not clear how food was being monitored at critical control points as no temperatures of foods were being recorded.
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Despite the inspection, Katy’s Cafe continues to be praised online, with one person describing the venue as providing “good home-cooked food at great prices”.
One happy customer said: “Best Sunday dinner in the area. For only £5 it’s great value for money. Strongly recommend everyone to give them a try!”
Katy’s Cafe declined to comment.
