The owners of a Chinese takeaway have been fined after lying about its food hygiene rating.
Lotus Garden, in Eccleston, Chorley, was advertised on menu leaflets as having a perfect five star rating when in fact it had been rated one star. It was warned about the practice but continued to display the false information even after a subsequent inspection changed its score to three stars.
Lancashire County Council’s Trading Standards launched an investigation following complaints from members of the public and in January 2025, officers found a large number of menu leaflets on the counter displaying the incorrect five-star rating.
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Further misleading menus were identified during a later visit, even after new leaflets had been printed. Following an inspection by Chorley Council’s Environmental Health team at the end of January 2025, the business’s rating improved to a three-star.
However, a subsequent Trading Standards visit in November 2025 found menus on display that were still incorrectly promoting a five-star rating.
Feng Biao He, 53, and his son Kai Qiang He, 29, appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court on May 20 and pleaded guilty to offences linked to misleading menu leaflets.
Feng Biao was ordered to pay £3,740, including a fine of £1,250, while Kai Qiang was ordered to pay £1,350, including a fine of £250.
Cllr Joshua Roberts, cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities at Lancashire County Council, said: “This prosecution sends a clear message that misleading customers about food hygiene ratings is unacceptable. We will continue to act to protect the public and support businesses that follow the rules.
“Businesses must not provide false or misleading information. In this case, claiming a five-star rating when the premises held just one star was not only a criminal offence, but a clear breach of trust with customers.
“While district environmental health teams award food hygiene ratings, it is our Trading Standards team that takes action against misleading claims. We are determined to stamp out these practices. Those who cut corners or attempt to deceive the public should be in no doubt that Lancashire Trading Standards will take action.”
Anyone wishing to report a business can contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133.
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