Brisbane’s dirtiest food vendors on notice to clean up act after poor Eat Safe ratings

Almost 1200 vendors have fallen short of Brisbane‘s basic food safety standards, with 420 venues warned they must take immediate action. SEE THE FULL REPORT

One in 20 Brisbane food providers have failed to meet the city council’s basic food safety standards this year, while almost one in 10 have received a “poor performance” rating requiring immediate action.

The Brisbane City Council’s Eat Safe program covers everything from cafes and restaurants to takeaway joints, school tuckshops and manufacturers across its 26 wards, with 420 venues receiving a dismal zero-star rating relating to issues from a lack of cleanliness and hygiene to contaminated food, potentially hazardous food displays and the presence of pests and vermin.

Another 752 vendors scored just two stars (no one-star ratings were given), indicating “poor performance” with “more effort required”.

“Businesses that are rated zero or two stars are required to make significant improvements to their food safety standards,” a Brisbane City Council spokesman said, declaring there had been almost 900 complaints this year against suspected unsafe food providers.

“These businesses will often receive an improvement notice or infringement notice for any offences or unsafe practices that are identified.”

More than 420 Brisbane outlets received a zero-star rating for issues such as the presence of vermin.

They were then required to work with the council to reach an acceptable standard – three stars or above – and would remain at zero or two stars until their next audit six months later.

“Food businesses that present a serious and immediate risk to public health and safety will have their food business licence suspended until the immediate risks are resolved,” the council spokesman said.

“If a food business continues to present food safety risks to the public, council may choose to undertake further action, including suspending or cancelling a food business licence.”

Brisbane City Council launched 32 prosecutions in the past financial year against food-rule breaking establishments that rendered $287,000 in court-ordered fines.

The council also issued 85 fines of its own, slugging non-compliant venues $82,680.

In total 80 individual food businesses were either prosecuted in court or fined by council for a total of $369,680.

While the figure is well down from 2019 when Brisbane food businesses were hit with almost $1.2m in fines, what may prove concerning for diners is that once venues reach the top five-star rating, they are then only inspected once every three years, with self audits in between.

Operators that achieve five stars are entitled to a discount of up to 50 per cent on their standard food business licence fee, giving them more incentive to lie on self audits.

Venues that score four stars are audited by council every two years and 3-star establishments once a year.

The council urged diners to look for the council’s Eat Safe star display and pay attention to cleanliness, staff approach to hygiene and signs of pests.