Birmingham Food Hall Reopens After Mouse Infestation Shuts Six Restaurants

Six Chinese restaurants at Birmingham's Han Dynasty Food Hall have been allowed to reopen after an emergency hygiene investigation forced them to close for up to three days. The establishments — Kei Hing, Barrel Sister, Wok & Peace, Fangyangland BBQ, Xiao Long Bao & Dumpling, and Northern Iron Pot — were shut down when inspectors discovered evidence of a mouse infestation, raising serious questions about food safety standards in the city's dining scene.

Birmingham City Council inspectors issued Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Orders on July 20, 2026, after finding mouse droppings on shelving, near food containers, and on the floor. At Fangyangland BBQ, the situation was particularly stark — a mouse was observed jumping out of a box. Following deep cleaning and reassessment, the restaurants were permitted to reopen between July 22 and July 23.

McDonald's Fined After Customer Spots Rodent

The Han Dynasty case is not an isolated incident. A McDonald's branch elsewhere in Birmingham was fined £8,000, plus a £2,000 surcharge, after a customer spotted a mouse at the counter in February 2026. Health inspectors later found a dead baby mouse and droppings near food preparation and drink stations. Operator Remmer Restaurants Ltd admitted to violating food safety laws during court proceedings.

Dairy-Free Warning: Restaurant Fined Over Allergen Failures

In County Durham, the restaurant Isla — run by Coarse Restaurant Limited — was fined over £8,000 for repeatedly serving milk in cappuccinos advertised as dairy-free. Durham County Council prosecuted the business for supplying unsafe food after a new allergen policy failed to prevent a second occurrence of the same error.

Takeaway Director Fined for Dirty Equipment

Nadeem Raza, director of Kebabish Ko Ltd, was fined £320 plus costs at Preston Magistrates' Court on July 15, 2026. Pendle Council brought the charges after inspectors found a failure to clean food contact equipment at a Nelson takeaway. In Portsmouth, the Paanchi takeaway was also shut down after routine inspections revealed mouse droppings near open food and cooking equipment.

US Inspectors Flag Widespread Violations

Regulatory action has intensified across the United States as well. In Riverside County, California, health inspectors shut down multiple facilities between July 16 and July 23. Reasons included a cockroach infestation at New Spice World in Corona, a lack of hot water at a Little Caesars in Menifee, and a sewage overflow at Chi Wok Mongolian in Jurupa Valley.

In Florida, Alachua County inspectors reported a significant number of high-severity hits during the week of July 16-22. Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant in Gainesville was cited for 13 high-severity violations, including the use of unapproved food and a lack of proper handwashing. Mel's Family Diner in Sanford was briefly closed on July 15 due to rodent activity — the establishment has recorded 424 violations across 40 inspections and has been closed twice previously for rodent-related issues.

Further inspections between July 15 and July 22 in Springfield, Missouri, flagged King's Asian Chef and The Kennedy for keeping food past the mandatory seven-day discard date. In Sacramento, California, a Sbarro location was cited for several violations including a blocked handwashing sink and black slime found in an ice machine. Similar mold and slime issues were reported by inspectors in Birmingham, Alabama, at a T-Mobile call center, and in Corpus Christi, Texas, where K-BOB's Steakhouse was cited for moldy equipment and the presence of gnat traps at a salad bar.

en | boerse | 69867453 |