Revealed: Ipswich restaurants, cafes’ food safety inspection ratings for 2021

The city is home to more than 820 licensed food premises. The council has now revealed how they fared after hundreds of inspections were carried out – not all were up to standard.

Council officers conducted more than 680 safety inspections of Ipswich food businesses over the past year with only one licence being suspended and a handful of fines handed out.

The city is home to more than 820 licensed food premises.

Ipswich City Council introduced the Eat Safe Ipswich program in 2018 which sees businesses assigned a star rating based on their performance.

During the 2020-21 financial year, the council conducted 93 inspections directly as a result of a complaint.

A council spokesman said 60 improvement notices were handed out.

“Council issued only eight penalty infringement notices (fines) and launched only one prosecution,” he said.

“A further license was suspended after a show cause process.

“If you look at these numbers, that is fewer than 1 per cent of our food businesses failing to meet set standards.

“That is a very small proportion, and we are happy to see so many performing above and beyond.

Ipswich City Council conducted more than 680 inspections of local food businesses during the 2020-21 financial year.

“On the whole, the vast majority operate to the highest standards of health and hygiene, providing a quality service to our community.

“There will always be the odd exception and council has an obligation to follow up with routine inspections and investigating any complaints from the public.”

The spokesman said the infringing businesses could not be legally named.

Ipswich has about 150 premises with a five-star rating under the Eat Safe program.

“If a business calculates a three-star or above rating, they can opt-in to have their results publicly displayed,” the spokesman said.

“Council regulates and monitors public health risks across a number of areas with food safety being a key issue for the community.”

The Ipswich food businesses with a five-star rating made public include: Zarraffa’s Coffee West Ipswich, Wheelie Good Food, The Roaming Pig, Sushi Izu, Subway Yamanto, Subway Raceview, Ready Foodz, Omnia – Books & Beyond, McDonalds Augustine Heights, Little Birds Early Learning Centre, HIT HOT DOG, George In The Wild, George In The Wild, Dippin Dots Ice Cream, Deebing Heights Early Learning Centre, Cafe 63 Springfield Fair and Brasil Bites.

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