Rat droppings in a kitchen, greasy surfaces and a staff member reluctant to clean themselves were among the shocking findings inspectors found at a town's kebab shop.  

The Mediterranean Kebab House in Lowestoft scored zero out of five in a food hygiene rating after East Suffolk Council inspectors visited it. 

The inspectors' report listed a number of concerns and requirements for the High Street takeaway to improve on following their visit in August.

It said: “At the time of inspection there were rat droppings in the kitchen and evidence of rodent activity in the external cartilage of the premises.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Rat droppings pictured in the Mediterranean Kebab House's kitchenRat droppings pictured in the Mediterranean Kebab House's kitchen (Image: East Suffolk Council)East Anglian Daily Times: The rat hole pictured at the rear of the kebab shopThe rat hole pictured at the rear of the kebab shop (Image: East Suffolk Council)

Inspectors said that the state of the kitchen was counterproductive for the “effectiveness of any treatment to eradicate” the rats at the restaurant.  

It said: “The kitchen was particularly greasy and dirty. 

“Food debris, dirt and grease present provides a food source for rodents and reduce the effectiveness of any treatment to eradicate them.”

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East Anglian Daily Times: Inspectors found the kitchen in an appalling state when they inspectedInspectors found the kitchen in an appalling state when they inspected (Image: East Suffolk Council)

The report also detailed concerns about the hygiene of the staff handling food and detailed how one was “reluctant to accept” the need to be clean. 

It said: “One of the food handlers had badly paint-stained hands and dirty fingernails and appeared reluctant to accept the need for them to be clean before handling food. 

“And food handlers were not wearing protective clothing over their outdoor clothing.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Dirty food utensils in the kitchen by inspectorsDirty food utensils in the kitchen by inspectors (Image: East Suffolk Council)East Anglian Daily Times: Evidence of the kitchen in an unclean state Evidence of the kitchen in an unclean state (Image: East Suffolk Council)

Furthermore, the report stated that the sink was absent of soap and materials for hand washing and drying. 

Inspectors also listed concerns with a lack of food safety knowledge among staff and the “importance of good personal hygiene and premises hygiene”.

East Anglian Daily Times: Exterior shot of Lowestoft's Mediterranean Kebab HouseExterior shot of Lowestoft's Mediterranean Kebab House (Image: Mick Howes)

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East Anglian Daily Times: The report said the sink was leaking and without soapThe report said the sink was leaking and without soap (Image: East Suffolk Council)

It was agreed with restaurant owners that it would be “voluntarily closed” until improvements were made to tackle the rat problem.

The kebab was also given a list of other compliance measures to be taken concerning the state of the premises.

This paper reached out to the Mediterranean Kebab House for a comment on the report but they hung up on the phone. 

East Anglian Daily Times: More evidence of grease in the kitchenMore evidence of grease in the kitchen (Image: East Suffolk Council)

East Anglian Daily Times: Exterior shot of Lowestoft's Mediterranean Kebab HouseExterior shot of Lowestoft's Mediterranean Kebab House (Image: East Suffolk Council)East Anglian Daily Times: More dirty utensils in the kitchenMore dirty utensils in the kitchen (Image: East Suffolk Council)