A KEBAB van in Oxford has been criticised after a health inspector found a risk of food contamination and no evidence daily hygiene checks had been done in months.

Issues over the temperature sauces were being stored at overnight and tong handles being left in food were among the concerns raised during a recent visit to the Botley Kebab van by Oxford City Council’s food hygiene team.

A report from August 1 said the inspector had ‘no choice’ but to award the popular Botley Road takeaway one star, the second lowest rating possible - meaning ‘major improvement necessary’ - after finding the takeaway had ignored advice about legally required checks.

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They wrote: “Despite being informed on the last inspection the SFBB (Safer Food, Better Business) were still not in the van. The daily checks had not been recorded since April. These must be completed daily.”

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A SFBB is a document which helps small businesses with food safety management procedures and food hygiene regulations, providing guidance on cross contamination, cleaning, chilling and cooking, as well as containing a daily diary to ensure standards are maintained.

The report added: “Due to the SFBB being an ongoing issue I have no choice but to award a rating of one.”

Despite this issue, the business, which has been based at the junction of Cripley Road for more than a decade, was given a ‘good’ rating for structural compliance- one of three factors which makes up the overall rating and which relates to general cleanliness, facilities and ventilation.

There were however, also concerns over current food handling and storing practices, with the report commenting: “The handle of the tongs was touching the cheese, which can cause contamination. Do not leave tongs in food.”

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It added: “There were a section of sauces out of temperature control. I was informed these would be out of temperature control all evening then taken home to be brought back next day until used up.

“The maximum time they can be out of temp control is four hours. This is an accumulating time.”

The takeaway was judged to be ‘fair’ for food safety and hygiene, meaning it was still within the top 50 per cent of premises and standards were ‘being maintained or improved’.

Botley Kebab was contacted but did not respond before the paper went to print.

When The Oxford Mail reviewed the takeaway in 2016 it was praised for “serving excellent Turkish food at a decent price”.