Shinya Japanese Group Pty Ltd fined $25k after breaching Food Act and Food Standards Code

A Japanese restaurant in Geelong has faced court after health officers witnessed staff not washing their hands after handling raw meat and found mould in the kitchen.

Shinya Japanese Group, which operates under Shinya Ramen and Bar Waurn Ponds, faced a Geelong court on Monday.

A Japanese restaurant in Geelong has been fined $25,000 after health officers witnessed staff not washing their hands after handling raw chicken and found mould in the kitchen.

Shinya Japanese Group Pty Ltd – trading as Shinya Ramen and Bar Waurn Ponds – and company director Bryan Mu pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Monday to multiple breaches of the Food Act and Food Standards Code.

The court heard environmental health officers from Geelong council conducted 11 food safety inspections at the restaurant in the 12 months to September this year.

On most occasions, officers found a number of non-compliance breaches, including staff not washing their hands after handling raw chicken and mould growing inside the dishwasher.

They witnessed one staff member use a cleaning cloth to wipe down a bench after they had cut raw chicken and then use the same cloth to wipe other areas of the bench used for food preparation.

Various foods, including raw meat, tofu and pots of broth, were left undated and uncovered in the cool room.

Staff were also using the hand basin, intended to wash and sanitise their hands, to clean cookware.

Officers noted improvements during an inspection on May 10, but during another unannounced visit a month later there was a build up of grease and dirt on the stove top and food stored in the cool room for longer than seven days.

Various foods including seaweed, octopus salad, sauce and mayonnaise were seized.

Mr Mu and his father, Zengping Mu, are company directors of Geelong Waterfront Seafood and Grill, which traded as Bay View Bay and Grill.

It also fronted the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Monday for breaches of the same Act.

The restaurant closed in July but had eight non-compliance inspections from September last year to July this year for similar offending.

Prosecutor Louisa Dicker said there was also a non-compliance inspection as recently as last month at Shinya.

“These are serious offences and indicate systemic breaches,” she said.

“The community is sitting ducks here.”

Mr Mu’s defence lawyer said Shinya was “potentially on its last legs” and the company was “trying to tread water”.

The lawyer said Mr Mu accepts full responsibility for the charges.

Shinya owner and company director Bryan Mu. Picture: Peter Ristevski

“Having worked in hospitality since 2015, he intuitively knows what the right things should be,” the lawyer said.

“He has not had a day off since Covid … it is crushing work for no financial reward.”

Magistrate Franz Holzer said he would be “hard-pressed” to not record a conviction.

“There were opportunities to address the problems but that wasn’t done,” he said.

“When someone comes into the store (they) don’t know what goes on behind the scenes.

“We take it at face value and expect quality, clean food.

“It’s very fortunate that in these two examples someone’s health wasn’t compromised.”

Shinya Japanese Group was fined $25,000 and Mr Mu was fined $10,000.

Geelong Waterfront Seafood and Grill was fined $20,000 and both directors were fined $8000 each.

“This might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back … but community safety and the need for deterrence always comes first,” Mr Holzer said.

Originally published as Shinya Japanese Group Pty Ltd fined $25k after breaching Food Act and Food Standards Code