Rat dropping at illegal juice factory 

A JUICING factory on Malaga’s Guadalhorce industrial estate has been shut down after inspectors found filthy conditions including rat droppings on the premises.

Apart from the dirt, inspectors also found ‘deficient hygiene practices’ and inadequate refrigeration facilities.  It was also found to be unregistered as a food production plant, as is required by law.

It was closed immediately as a precautionary measure.

An investigation started when a health inspector visited a shop that sold natural juices supposedly made on site. But he found that the juices were produced in the shop where they were sold, but actually in a factory on the same industrial estate.

He followed up this discovery to pay a visit to the offending factory. The people in charge of the establishment – where, in addition to juice, desserts are made – did not allow him to enter.  The inspector was forced to call in agents of the Group of Protection of Nature of the Local Police (Grupona) to allow his inspection.

The factory, described as ‘large’ has been sealed and the owners face a ‘serious’ penalty.

In a separate incident, Malaga’s health inspectors found a consignment of 110 kilos of tuna that was destined for a Japanese restaurant.

Due to the fact that the fish did not have – as is mandatory – the documentation to certify its origin, it was seized then later destroyed.