Spicy Tadka in Festival Place given one for hygiene

Spicy Tadka, in Festival Place, was visited by food safety officers from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on January 6, who said ‘major improvement’ is needed for hygiene standards.

The restaurant, which was nominated for a British Curry Award last year, opened in Basingstoke in 2014.

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Food safety officers reported that ‘major improvement’ is necessary for the management of food safety at Spicy Tadka, which includes systems or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, and evidence that staff know about food safety.

They said that the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building and hygienic food handling both require ‘improvement’.

Inspectors considered the hand washing facilities, pest control, storage, re-heating and food preparation.

However, the owner of the restaurant, Gagan Joshi, said the rating was “very unfair and very harsh”.

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He told the Gazette that the inspector found food particles under a fridge and tables which had been there for a long time and could attract pests.

However, he said the inspector found no evidence of actual pests, and the problem was rectified immediately.

He said on the day of the inspection the restaurant had suffered from staffing issues, adding: “It’s not the food – no one got sick from our food which is top quality. The only thing they found was a couple of places under the fridge and tables they found some food particles which were left there and that’s the only reason we have a rating of one.

“They came on January 6 which is right after the busy period.”

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Mr Joshi, whose restaurant was shortlisted for an Inspire Business Award for its work in the community in 2021, said the inspector re-visited Spicy Tadka on January 13 and was satisfied the problem had been dealt with.

However, the rating cannot be changed for at least three months because of rules set by the Food Standards Agency.

He is appealing the one-star rating and urged his loyal customers to support the restaurant.

“The most important thing is that for the last five years, no one has got sick from our food,” he said, adding: “I’m very worried. I feel that the council hasn’t done the job right. It’s all based on something that might happen.”

He invited customers to look around the kitchen if they are worried, and said: “We are very open and if anyone wants to walk into our kitchen I would be very happy to show them.”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s head of environment and community services Tom Payne said: “Food safety officers are continuing to work with staff at the Spicy Tadka following the food hygiene rating of ‘one - major improvement necessary’ awarded following an unannounced food hygiene inspection in January 2023.

“At the time of the inspection, hygiene at the premises was found to be non-compliant with legal standards. The rules of operation for the ratings scheme are set by the Food Standards Agency and the rating must stand for a minimum of three months from the date of the original inspection unless it is successfully appealed.

“Food safety officers have re-visited the premises twice since the original inspection and will visit again shortly to ensure that the required food hygiene standards are being met and maintained.”