A Cardiff chip shop customer was left in complete shock as he discovered a maggot crawling through his lamb doner kebab at the Gabalfa Fish Bar. The incident left 22-year-old Jack Pocock and his girlfriend feeling nauseous and upset. Mr. Pocock recounted how he found the larva halfway through his meal on Friday evening, prompting both him and his girlfriend to vomit after the shocking discovery.
Upon confronting the shop staff, Mr. Pocock’s mother, Sharon Pocock, was told that the maggot may have come into contact with the food during the journey home. The family was refunded £25 for their meal and decided to report the incident to the council’s environmental health department for further investigation. Cardiff Council’s shared regulatory services are now actively looking into the matter.
The owner of Gabalfa Fish Bar, Shiraz Ahmed, expressed his apologies for the customer’s unpleasant experience and stated that he had never encountered such a complaint in his ten years in the food industry. Despite holding a five-star food hygiene rating, the shop has come under scrutiny following this concerning incident.
While the business has received positive reviews online, including an average rating of 4.3 stars from 78 Google reviews, the discovery of the maggot has raised questions about their food preparation processes. Mr. Ahmed insisted that improvements have been made since taking over the shop two years ago, pointing out that a recent inspection highlighted a minor issue with cracked floor tiles in the potato-peeling room.
The shop owner suggested that the maggot might have entered the kebab after the customers left the premises. However, Mrs. Pocock strongly refuted this claim, emphasizing that the packaging was only opened when her son and his girlfriend were at home. Mr. Ahmed expressed his commitment to investigating the incident further to determine the source of the contamination and prevent such incidents from reoccurring.
In response to the public outcry, Gabalfa Fish Bar released a statement on Facebook, reassuring customers of their high standards and continued operation. The incident has sparked concerns among the local community, prompting discussions around food safety and hygiene practices in eateries across Cardiff. The takeaway remains open as investigations continue into the unsettling discovery in the kebab.
As the investigation unfolds, it serves as a reminder of the importance of stringent food safety measures and the need for thorough inspections in food establishments. The reputation of Gabalfa Fish Bar may face challenges in regaining trust from customers following this unsettling incident. The incident highlights the significance of food hygiene and transparency in food preparation to ensure customer confidence and satisfaction.
Overall, the incident at the Cardiff chip shop has raised important questions about food safety protocols and the vigilance required in the food industry to prevent such occurrences. Customers are urged to remain vigilant and report any concerns regarding food quality to the relevant authorities for prompt action. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for food establishments to maintain the highest standards of hygiene and quality control to protect their customers’ well-being.