Worthing Kebab Shop Ordered To Pay More Than £11,000 For Food Safety Breaches

A Worthing kebab shop has been ordered to pay over £11,000 after admitting to serious food safety offences, including failing to protect customers with food allergies.

Directors of Worthing Kebab Ltd, trading as Worthing Kebab House & Pizza at 32 Teville Road, Worthing, appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 3 April 2025 and pleaded guilty to all charges.

West Sussex Trading Standards had previously visited the premises in August 2021 and July 2022, providing comprehensive food safety issues which included allergen advice.

In 2023, the company and its director, Mr Yasar Kizilcay, were prosecuted for failing to provide accurate allergen information and for displaying an incorrect hygiene rating.

In February 2024, officers conducted a covert test purchase and ordered a meat doner while declaring a milk allergy.

Staff incorrectly stated the food did not contain milk, but laboratory tests confirmed the presence of milk protein in the kebab, deeming it unsafe.

The menu was also found to be misleading, as items such as the ‘doner wrap’ and ‘kids doner’, which should contain only lamb, included other meats.

In court, the directors Mr Yasar Kizilcay and Ms Nazzat Kosser Riaz explained that the incident took place during a period of staff shortages.

They also told the court they have since introduced a staff training schedule on allergens, added signage advising customers with allergies to speak to staff and updated menu descriptions to more accurately reflect ingredients.

Richard Sargeant, West Sussex County Council Trading Standards Team Manager, said:

“It is vital that consumers can trust food descriptions and rely on businesses to take allergens seriously.

"We urge all retailers to take this conviction as a cautionary example and ensure they are accurately describing their products.”

Worthing Kebab Ltd was ordered to pay a total of £11,211. As a director, Mr Kizilcay was ordered to pay a total of £1,288 and Ms Riaz, also serving as a director, was ordered to pay a total of £2,464.

Cllr Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said:

“This case highlights the important role of our Trading Standards officers in protecting residents.

"It reflects our ongoing commitment to upholding food safety and supporting public health, which aligns with our key priorities outlined in Our Council Plan.”