Brisbane suburbs with most food safety complaints

DOZENS of food safety complaints are made about Brisbane restaurants and businesses every month, with new figures revealing the suburbs that customers should be wary of.

Brisbane city had the most food safety complaints, followed by Fortitude Valley.

DOZENS of food safety complaints are made about Brisbane restaurants and businesses every month, with new figures revealing the suburbs that customers should be wary of.

It comes as the Brisbane City Council revealed it had recently prosecuted businesses for “serious breaches of food safety and handling practices”, including the discovery of vermin, cockroaches or vermin droppings in food preparation areas.

More than 820 food safety complaints were lodged with the council in 2017, with another 726 made in the last nine months of 2016.

See the full suburb list below

Businesses in the Brisbane CBD topped the list last year, where residents lodged 80 complaints with the council – followed by Fortitude Valley with 48 and Sunnybank with 28.

There were 28 complaints also made in South Brisbane and 24 lodged in West End.

Councillor Matthew Bourke, who chairs the Lifestyle and Community Services committee, said close to 6400 food safety inspections were carried out by the council in 2017.

“Each and every complaint made to council about food safety is followed up with an on-site inspection, and food businesses are not allowed to continue operating if they present a health risk to the public,” he said.

“Council also conducts regular proactive inspections of food businesses, to ensure food safety requirements are being met.”

Rounding out the top 10 suburbs for complaints last year was Upper Mount Gravatt (22), New Farm (19), Chermside (19), Hamilton (15), Sunnybank Hills and Inala (14 each).

The council did not reveal how many businesses they successfully prosecuted in 2017 for food safety breaches.

Cr Bourke urged anyone who was concerned with the standard of food handling or storage at any Brisbane restaurant, cafe or food truck to come forward to the council.

“Council works closely with food trucks, restaurants and cafes through the EatSafe program to ensure food is handled and stored correctly at Brisbane food businesses,” he said.

FOOD SAFETY COMPLAINTS BY SUBURB FOR 2017

1. Brisbane City – 80

2. Fortitude Valley – 48

3. South Brisbane – 28

4. Sunnybank – 28

5. West End – 24

6. Upper Mount Gravatt – 22

7. Chermside – 19

8. New Farm – 19

9. Hamilton – 15

10. Inala – 14

10. Sunnybank Hills – 14