A County Durham takeaway restaurant has been slammed by health inspectors after it was found that staff wore dirty clothes and life-threatening allergen information was not provided.

Crispy Cod on Beverley Way in Peterlee, County Durham, was inspected on July 14 and received a 1-star food hygiene rating.

Health inspectors found the takeaway failed the inspection on multiple aspects after their visit including life-threatening allergen information not being provided.

Inspectors also found that food handlers were not wearing suitable clean clothing, and even wearing jewellery that could “present a risk of contamination.”

During the visit, a bolognese was left to cool at room temperature for three to four hours, something that inspectors stress presents “ideal conditions for food poisoning bacteria to grow.”

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Sanitisers and disinfectants at the premises also didn’t meet the correct requirements and the restaurant was asked to stop using them.

Raw food was found to be stored above or next to cooked and ready-to-eat food such as bread buns in the fridge.

Inspectors stressed that this could lead to cross-contamination and food poisoning.

The inspection found multiple areas of the takeaway that needed cleaning, including an outside shed that was part of the business, a chest freezer, chopping boards and the toilet.

Meanwhile, the business was also failing to make customers aware that their food contains any of the 14 allergens as ingredients – something that can be life-threatening.

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The inspection said: “Details of these allergens have to be listed clearly in an obvious place such as a menu or information pack.”

It also added that many of the items listed are not legally required to be acted upon, but recommend that the business did so anyway.

A spokesperson for Crispy Cod said they were working to improve things at the takeaway.

They said: "We are working on improving things, and have already taken some necessary steps as advised."

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