A Southall takeaway and an Acton food production company have been handed heavy fines after Ealing Council inspectors uncovered severe mice infestations – one of which was described as among the worst ever seen – prompting immediate closures due to serious risks to public health.
Fast food restaurant Lahori Savour in Southall and food production company Green Forest Plus Ltd in North Acton were found to be operating in unsanitary conditions following investigations by Ealing Council’s food safety team.
Mukhtar Hussain, owner of Lahori Savour on The Green, pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 27 May 2025 to multiple food hygiene offences. These included failing to control pests and maintain a clean and safe environment. Council officers closed the premises in September 2023, citing an imminent risk to public health.
A follow-up inspection in October 2023 confirmed that sufficient improvements had been made, allowing the restaurant to reopen. Mr Hussain and the business were ordered to pay £20,479 in fines and court costs. Its most recent food hygiene rating, issued on 24 January 2024, is two out of five.
In a separate case heard at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 9 May 2025, Qing Tian, owner of Green Forest Plus Ltd in North Acton, also pleaded guilty to similar charges. A food hygiene inspection in March 2024 revealed what council officers described as “one of the worst mice infestations they had ever seen in the borough”.
The business was shut down immediately and has since ceased operations in Ealing. Tian was ordered to pay £8,432 in fines and legal costs.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: “Food businesses have a responsibility to protect their customers by applying the highest possible safety standards to their operations, and our food safety team does everything it can to help businesses maintain these standards. However, we will ensure the minority of businesses that break the rules and gamble with the public’s safety are held accountable.
“Investigating these cases costs the council money, which would be better spent supporting our residents elsewhere. We will continue to crackdown on food businesses with poor hygiene standards. You can play your part in supporting our community by reporting any concerns to our team.”
Residents can report concerns about food hygiene to: foodsafety@ealing.gov.uk
