M&B pledges disciplinary action after BBC hygiene probe

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) says it expects to take disciplinary action after the BBC 'Rogue Restaurants' series showed breaches of hygiene standards at two of its Harvester pub restaurants.

The first episode of the new TV series, broadcast last night, showed footage filmed by investigators who obtained kitchen jobs in the two pubs. Breaches filmed included:

• food dropped on the floor and then served to customers
• deliveries left out for several hours due to a broken freezer
• staff, one holding a knife, sliding dangerously on a greasy kitchen floor
• a slug found in a salad

In a statement, M&B said: "We expect every employee to adhere to the rigorous documented food safety processes in place. Any breach is taken very seriously and we are appalled by the unacceptable behaviour featured in two of our businesses.

"Prior to the programme being shown, we completed a comprehensive, detailed internal investigation and took the maximum disciplinary action available to us on the basis of the limited information disclosed to us by the BBC. Now that we have the full evidence, we expect to take further disciplinary action to address the issues identified."

It added that: "We believe that the actions filmed were isolated incidents and do not reflect the overall exemplary standards of food hygiene and customer service from our Harvester teams".

The company, which operates 2,000 pubs across the UK, said it had already undertaken a review of processes and procedures, as well as independent audits of kitchen practices in all 156 Harvesters, "to reinforce the high standards of hygiene and food safety we require."

The programme, presented by Matt Allwright, also showed investigators entering a leased pub posing as pest controllers, and taking samples which showed high levels of bacteria. The lessee was later shown undertaking what he said was a 'deep clean' of the pub.

It is also understood that the manager and kitchen staff of the Yates outlet in Reading, Berkshire have resigned after the BBC contacted owner Town & City Pub Company about an item to be shown in a subsequent edition.

The programme's researchers are using local authority 'Scores on the Doors' reports as one source of information about potential outlets to investigate.

• To view the programme, use the link on the right.