Yet another food establishment has been prosecuted for a catalogue of horrendous hygiene contraventions which will doubtless turn the stomach of anyone – especially those who may have patronised the takeaway.

The level of flagrant disregard for even basic cleanliness rules exhibited by these types of business which find themselves in court is simply horrifying. In this day and age we should be able to expect nothing but the highest standards from even the smallest food vendor.

There have been a number of similar prosecutions in recent months, not because businesses are getting more lax but because greater efforts are being put into bringing them to book.

With the star-ratings given to all food establishments, no matter their size, these days, it is much easier for the consumer to check up on what efforts cafes, restaurants and takeaways put into keeping their kitchens in order.

They also allow diners to vote with their feet – a food purveyor without customers is a business that will not last very long at all. So while they are – quite rightly – under public scrutiny, it makes nothing but sense for them to keep their standards of hygiene and cleanliness as high as possible.

It is not just about fining or reprimanding those businesses with poor practice and bad hygiene – it’s about protecting the public. Illnesses resulting from unclean food preparation can be very serious and even fatal, and no owner would want that on their conscience.

Prosecutions such as this ought to encourage the businesses involved to clean up their acts – and anyone else in the same line of work – to ensure they are beyond reproach.