Two restaurants in Croydon Boxpark told to ‘urgently improve’ food safety
By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter
A pair of restaurants in Croydon’s Boxpark have been told to “urgently improve” their food safety standards.
Earlier this year Eden’s Kitchen and Peninsula were given the lowest possible food hygiene rating of 0 by inspectors from the Food Standards Agency.
However, Boxpark claims the two businesses have been reinspected with Eden’s Kitchen getting a four star rating and Peninsula getting a five star rating. The ratings for the latest inspection are yet to be published on the Food Standards Agency website.
A spokesperson for Boxpark said: “We pride ourselves on being the home to fantastic, quality street food and therefore we take food hygiene very seriously.
“We work closely with the local authority to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene across our venue, and we expect our traders to meet those same high standards.
“Following a recent revisit from environmental health officers, we are pleased that two of our traders have been awarded ratings of five and four stars, and we will continue to monitor to ensure the best hygiene practises are maintained.”
Eden’s Kitchen, which specialises in ‘healthy bowls’ opened in September 2020. While Peninsula serves up Malaysian street food and has other branches at Boxparks in Wembley and Shoreditch.
Inspectors rated their hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and buildings, and management of food safety. It said urgent improvement was needed in all three areas.
Information on Croydon council’s website said: “Food hygiene inspections of food premises can take place without prior notification at any reasonable time.
“The exception is for private homes, where home catering might be taking place. In these instances, we will try to give 24 hours’ notice.
“Once registered, your business will be due a routine food hygiene and food standards inspection.”
Eden’s Kitchen, Peninsula and Croydon Boxpark were contacted but did not give a comment before publication.
Pictured top: Croydon Boxpark (Picture: Hzh/Wikimedia Commons)