Trump Golf Resort in ScotlandFailsFood Hygiene Inspection

Trump International Golf Club Scotland Limited, owned by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, has lost a complaint against The Scotsman newspaper over reports of unsanitary conditions at its resort in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. The newspaper published two articles in September 2022 detailing numerous food hygiene issues uncovered during an inspection at the property.

The resort failed to achieve a pass grade under a national food hygiene scheme and had been served an improvement notice the previous year. Inspectors found dirty chopping boards and appliances, food handlers failing to properly wash their hands, and sausage meat nearly three months past its expiration date.

Why this matters: This incident highlights the Trump Organization's recurring struggles with maintaining basic health and safety standards across its properties, which can have serious consequences for public health. This incident highlights the Trump Organization's recurring struggles with maintaining basic health and safety standards across its properties, which can have serious consequences for public health. The Trump brand continues to face scrutiny, itsreputation may suffer further damage, potentially impacting its business operations and customer trust.

Trump International filed a complaint with the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the UK's largest press regulator, claiming the articles were inaccurate and "created a false narrative that the resort was currently operating an unsafe environment for consumers and that the problems were ongoing." However, IPSO ultimately ruled in favor of The Scotsman.

IPSO stated that The Scotsman was justified in characterizing the resort as having "failed" the inspection, since the article clearly explained why it had not met the requirements for a "pass" status. Theregulatornoted that the newspaper had taken sufficient care to ensure the accuracy of the information.

The Scotsman was required to publish a correction regarding the resort's most recent food hygiene status, which IPSO deemed a "significant inaccuracy given it related to the hygiene standards of a resort which would likely have an impact on its custom and reputation." The newspaper swiftly issued the correction after receiving the complaint and verifying the updated information with the local council.

The original article, titled "Make Trump resort restaurant great again," included sharp criticism, stating it was "Rather ironic that the self-confessed germophobe's business should have been ordered to make improvements by environmental health officials over cleanliness and food safety issues." A Trump International representative lamented that the "false media coverage has created a hugely misleading and inaccurate impression of the high standards that are maintained at our resort in Aberdeenshire."

The Trump Organization has faced scrutiny over health and safety issues at other properties in recent years, including fines for improperly storing and handling food at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas and multiple health code violations related to food safety and hygiene at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey in 2018.

While the Aberdeenshire resort received a "pass" certificate in March 2023 after addressing the necessary improvements mandated by the council, the incident and complaint have brought unwanted attention to the Trump family's business practices. Former U.S. president continues to make headlines for his political and legal troubles, his company's struggles to meet basic standards of cleanliness and safety at its properties may further tarnish the Trump brand in the eyes of the public. president continues to make headlines for his political and legal troubles, his company's struggles to meet basic standards of cleanliness and safety at its properties may further tarnish the Trump brand in the eyes of the public.

Key Takeaways

• Trump's Scotland golf resort lost a complaint against The Scotsman over reports of unsanitary conditions.
• Inspectors found dirty chopping boards, expired sausages, and hand-washing issues at the resort.
• The resort failed to achieve a pass grade under a national food hygiene scheme.
• IPSO ruled in favor of The Scotsman, stating the articles were accurate and not misleading.
• The incident highlights the Trump Organization's recurring struggles with health and safety standards.