Poor hygiene results in Ryan’s Foods closure

31-Oct-2011 - Last updated on 31-Oct-2011 at 17:12 GMT

No permission: Ryan's Food's had been manufacturing without consent from the council

Scottish firm Ryan’s Foods has been shut down and had a number of its products recalled after Glasgow City Council discovered it to be manufacturing meals and selling on a wholesale basis without legal permission.

The firm’s factory on Sunnylaw Street, Glasgow, also failed to meet satisfactory hygiene conditions and will remain closed until further notice.

Environmental health officers from Glasgow City Council were alerted to the issue after failing to recognise the manufacturing address on a number of products being sold in the Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire areas.

Following an emergency closure of the site on Tuesday October 25, Glasgow Sheriff Court granted a hygiene prohibition order three days later. The council then began a recall of the products and is continuing to monitor the situation.

Poor standards of hygiene

A spokesman for the Glasgow City Council told Food Manufacture.co.uk: “An investigation was launched after Environmental Health Officers found the products on sale, but did not recognise the producer or its address. When they visited the premises, they discovered generally poor standards of hygiene and took immediate steps to close it.

“Although we have not found food poisoning organisms at this stage, we have put in place a product recall as a precaution to protect consumers in the city and across the country.”

Products recalled include a number of Indian dishes under the Aysha’s Foods brand, Ryan’s Chinese Lemon Chicken and all varieties of Rico’s Foods pizza.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed that the products “did not comply with food hygiene regulations” and urged for them to be withdrawn from sale and destroyed.

Destroyed

A statement from the FSA said: “Distribution is believed to be restricted to the Glasgow area, but it has not been possible to obtain full distribution details or traceability records. If you have bought any of the products, do not eat them.”

The factory will be closed permanently unless the firm receives approval to trade from Glasgow City Council, which is the relevant food authority.

A spokeswoman for the council confirmed that before approval can be granted, the site will be required to pass a variety of food hygiene standards set by the FSA.

Ryan’s Foods was unavailable for comment but Glasgow City Council confirmed that the closure was likely to result in job losses within the firm.