London Vietnamese restaurant shut down after ‘dog meat found in freezer’

A London restaurant has been shut down after dog meat was allegedly found in the freezer.

Pho Na, a Vietnamese restaurant on Old Kent Road, Southwark, closed after inspectors found the suspicious looking meat labelled as ‘goat wrapped in leaves’.

But when it was sent for analysis it was confirmed it was dog meat.

Inspectors also discovered mice droppings and cockroaches inside the establishment.

Owner Vuong Quoc Nguyen, 47, denied multiple food safety and hygiene offences at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Defence solicitor Piers Kiss-Wilson said his client did not know it was dog meat as it had been supplied to him by someone else.

He added the meat was never for sale, and pest control had been hired to deal with the mouse and cockroach infestation.

Lewisham Council said: ‘Following a failed food safety inspection at the former local business Pho Na, Lewisham Council commenced prosecution action in relation to food hygiene offences in 2023. 

‘The Council did not order the closure of the business, which was subsequently sold independently.

‘As this matter is subject to ongoing legal proceedings, we are unable to provide further comment at this time.’

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