A Croydon chicken takeaway where “items were being cleaned next to raw chicken” has been given a hygiene rating of 0.

Charlies Fried Chicken, on 342 Limpsfield Road in South Croydon, was inspected on July 20, 2024, and the Food Standards Agency concluded that the takeaway needed “urgent improvement”.

Inspectors said that “foods were found left out on the side out of temperature”.

They also said foods were being cooled, but “due to the size of containers, this would not cool in the two hours maximum time allowed”.

Inspectors said that the takeaway needed to “improve cleaning of the whole premises”.

This was because, at the time of inspection, “all areas were found to be dirty”.

Items were being cleaned next to raw chicken left on the side, inspectors noted.

They said this would cause cross-contamination, where harmful bacteria or other germs can spread from one surface, food, or object to another, potentially causing illness.

Inspectors even found “foods on the floor in the walk-in fridge” which could further cause cross-contamination.

They added that the takeaway has “dirty cloths and scourers all over the kitchen” and that they “must have clean cloths daily”.

The takeaway has records from previous inspections, but the inspectors said that they “need to prove the food is safe for human consumption”.

The inspectors said that staff “must wear clear PPE and not outdoor clothing” and “foods need to be used within a time frame that the food is fit for human consumption”.

They added: “You are not ensuring food is safe.”

They couldn’t see any use of stock control during the inspection.

Inspectors want Charlies Fried Chicken to clean the rear area, where they spotted rust, to prevent “pest ingress”.

Flour was spotted on the floor in the chicken prep area, according to the report.

They pointed out the legal requirement that “staff must have suitable training for the job role” and they “need to ensure that raw and CTE (cooked then eaten) foods are kept separate and do not cause cross-contamination”.

Inspectors noted in their report that they have the intention to revisit Charlies Fried Chicken soon.

We contacted Charlies Fried Chicken, but they declined to comment.