Chris Maclean: lurking food dangers

The front-page headline of our local paper this week screams "Cockroach infestation forces pub to close".

Well that's that then. Simple and straightforward. You cannot get a statement clearer than that. They are not allowed to open because their kitchen is infested with cockroaches. An EHO is quoted as saying "It is one of the worst cases I have seen". It's a disaster.

I suspect there will be some licensees who will gloat at the downfall of this business. I've not eaten there but it was the only Thai offering in town and there will be plenty of people who rave about it. But perhaps that is now past tense. The word 'cockroach' has a finality about it that will be difficult to lose. Who could eat there when it reopens?

There are three aspects about this that concern me. The first is the realisation that, given that the EHO served a closure notice, this must be the tip of the iceberg. This cannot be the first visit, can it? My suspicion is that this problem has been around for a time and the operator has done insufficient to placate the EHO.

The second is that, given the nature of catering and the draconian powers at the disposal of the council, this is a sword of Damocles hanging over many of us. I am not, in any way, suggesting any of us have cockroach infestation problems but I am wary that serving food is potentially fraught with danger.

I have had to have a word with the chefs because the bins here are sometimes so full that they cannot close; this leads to starlings and seagulls ripping the rubbish out. I can foresee issues with the EHO if that isn't stopped. So it is easy to point accusative fingers at other operators; just be sure they cannot point the finger back.

The third is the consequence to all pub caterers when a tragedy like this unfolds. You cannot be surprised if customers draw connections between pubs doing food, even when there is no evidence anyone elsewhere is doing wrong.

At the moment people make jokes about Cockroach Satay on the menu.

The truth is I feel very sorry that operator allowed events to develop as they did. It isn't good for him, or the industry.