A food outlet in an A1 motorway service station near Baldock has been ordered to pay more than £21,000 in fines for food safety offences.

TGFC Limited, trading as Francesca at Baldock Services, was convicted of five food safety offences at Stevenage Magistrates Court last week, including not protecting food from contamination and failure to produce company safe working practices.

The prosecution was brought before magistrates by North Hertfordshire District Council.

The company did not attend the hearing to offer a defence.

The food business, which ceased trading at Baldock Services earlier this year, failed to register with the council’s environmental health team, neglected to develop safe working practices, and didn’t train staff to work with food safely.

It was fined £4,000 for each of the five offences, ordered to pay NHDC’s costs of £1,594 and £120 victim surcharge.

The total cost was £21,174.

Cllr Bernard Lovewell, NHDC’s executive member for environmental health, said: “Everyone who opens a food business must register it with their local authority; they must inform the inspection body that they are trading.

“The company were consequently convicted for things that could have been easily rectified. If you are planning on starting up a business, phone the Environmental Health Commercial Team for advice so that you open and serve safe food from the very beginning.”

To register a new food business or for advice visit www.north-herts.gov.uk/home/environmental-health/food-safety-and-hygiene/food-premises-registration, or call 01462 474 000