A food manufacturer has been fined £150,000 after ignoring multiple safety warnings, including about a mochi-making machine.

Wembley-based Oriental Delight (UK) Limited was warned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 2016 and 2019 over safety failings.

Inspectors had identified multiple failings regarding the guarding of machinery, including a mochi-making machine.

But the watchdog then found identical guarding failings at an inspection carried out in October last year, suggesting that these warnings had been ignored.

Three machines were deemed unsafe due to interlocking safety devices being defeated and guards being completely removed.

Earlier this month (September 4), Oriental Delight pleaded guilty to breaching workplace health and safety regulations at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

The food manufacturer was fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,020.

Following the hearing, HSE Inspector Marcus Pope said: “This case sends out a clear message to the food manufacturing industry that HSE will not hesitate to prosecute when inspectors find serious health and safety failings, particularly when previous enforcement and advice has been provided.

“Once again we see how critical it is that all employers make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery.”