THE boss of a York city centre restaurant has appeared in court on 13 food hygiene charges covering seven months.

Vincenzo Fuccio, 42, did not enter a plea to the allegations about La Vecchia Scuola, in Low Petergate.

The charges include claims that the kitchen staff did not take precautions against cross-contamination that could make food unfit for human consumption, that food was not kept at the appropriate temperature to prevent pathogens or harmful toxins growing, that the food preparation surfaces and cooking equipment used to prepare food were not kept clean and in good repair and that steps were not taken to ensure kitchen staff wore clean clothes and kept themselves clean.

The case was brought by City of York Council after food inspectors visited the restaurant.

One of the charges alleges the restaurant did not obey the instructions of a hygiene improvement notice served by the council on September 13, 2011.

Although Fuccio, of Shirley Drive, Hove, did not enter a plea, magistrates set matters in train for a trial on all 13 charges and adjourned the case to a case management hearing on November 29.

Seven of the charges refer to alleged offences on August 9, 2011, during an inspection.

Three more relate to October 18, including the hygiene improvement notice allegation, and three to March 27, 2012.

Fuccio described himself in court as the “man who paid the bills” and carried out “front of house” duties for the restaurant and said he had been in charge under a franchise arrangement before August 1, 2012, and “in charge” after that.

His solicitor, Jeremy Scott, said Fuccio was a company director.

The allegations refer to a company called La Scuola Limited in the charges for August 9 and October 18 and a company called Vincenzo (York) Limited for the charges on March 27.