Mouse poo found at Museum of London café Benugo

A health official found a mouse infestation and staff not washing their hands regularly at the Benugo café at the museum, according to a report obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The café, located in the main foyer of the museum, was given a one out of five hygiene rating by the City of London Corporation on February 24.

Benugo told the Local Democracy Reporting Service [LDRS] a health inspector revisited the premises and gave it a top rating of five on Wednesday, April 13.

A hygiene report from an inspector, obtained by the LDRS, said some staff were not properly following food safety rules during a visit on February 24.

Dirty floors at Benugo café, Museum of London (Image: the City of London Corporation available for LDRS)

It said: “Although the relevant staff have received formal training in food safety managers, there seemed to be some misunderstanding in some of the fundamental requirements for food safety, e.g. substituting gloves for hand washing during food handling.”

The report added: “A wash hand basin is available in the basement kitchen but this is clearly not being used.

"There were mice droppings on the basement and tap, no soap or towels and the hot water took a while to come through… the standards of cleaning to the structure and equipment throughout where very poor, especially in the kitchen and food store.”

Mouse droppings in sink of Benugo café, Museum of London (Image: City of London Corporation available for LDRS)

The inspector also found the café was carrying out daily pest control checks and kept documents saying there was no activity of any issues despite there being evidence of a mice infestation in the kitchen, café and food storage areas.

The Food Standards Agency said major improvement was needed in the way the business managed food safety and added that it needed to be better at cleaning the café and handling food hygienically.

A Benugo spokesperson said: “On February 24, the café at the museum of London received an EHO inspection and was awarded a one star rating.

"Benugo immediately addressed the concerns of the EHO, with the actions taken resulting in a revisit from the EHO on April 13 and the café being awarded a five star food hygiene rating.”