List of shame for food sellers falling short on safety in inner west

STACKS of fines were dished out to 56 businesses across the inner west last year as the NSW Food Authority publicly outed the food retail outlets for doing the wrong thing.

Nine businesses across the inner west were fined for the presence of pests including mice, rats, cockroaches and flies or harbourage of vermin activity. Picture: Dieter Meyrl

STACKS of fines were dished out to 56 businesses across the inner west last year as the NSW Food Authority publicly outed the food retail outlets for doing the wrong thing.

The name and shame register is a list most restaurants try to avoid but thousands of dollars in fines were issued to local businesses, including repeat offenders, throughout 2016.

Inspectors from local councils have been checking temperature control, food handling techniques, waste-disposal practices and presence of pests in a bid to improve safety standards.

A total of 24 businesses were hit with fines by Inner West Council, 14 by Strathfield Council, 10 from Burwood Council and eight from Canada Bay Council.

Penalty notices issued to restaurants, cafes, takeaway shops, fast-food outlets and supermarkets for various food safety breaches ranged in fines from $440 to $880.

McDonalds Stanmore was the worst offender. It was hit with a $24,000 fine in total for unacceptable food practices, including failing to prevent the likelihood of contamination and using unclean equipment. Burwood had the most repeat offenders.

A German cockroach.

An Indian restaurant was handed five fines worth a total of $4180 for failing to maintain premises and equipment in a good working order and required standard of cleanliness, not storing food in a protected area and failing to ensure a food safety supervisor was appointed.

A Chinese restaurant at Burwood collected five penalty infringement notices and was told to pay $4400.

Nine businesses across the inner west were fined for the presence of pests including mice, rats, cockroaches and flies or harbourage of vermin activity.

A mouse eats cheese.

An Inner West Council spokeswoman said the council worked with food operators to ensure safety standards were maintained.

“In the case of continual noncompliance, council uses a number of enforcement tools,” she said.

“Regulatory inspections are usually undertaken on an annual basis. However in the case of noncompliance, more frequent inspections are conducted.

“Council noted evidence of vermin activity at the (supermarket) premises, with damaged and gnawed produce by mice or rats.”

Businesses are assessed for compliance under the Food Safety Standards.

“Strathfield Council uses an inspection report template provided by the NSW Food Authority, which covers everything from temperature control, food-handling techniques and even waste disposal practices,” a Strathfield Council spokeswoman said. “Common pests that may be found in food premises in Sydney include German cockroaches, rats, mice and flies.”

Burwood Mayor John Faker said the council had a rigorous inspection program. “The program, known as Scores on Doors, promotes how well restaurants, cafes and other eateries are complying with NSW hygiene and food safety requirements.”

To view the register, visit foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/penalty-notices.

A march fly.

WHOPPER OF A FINE FOR BREACH

MCDONALDS Stanmore has cleaned up its act after being slapped with a $24,000 fine in September for breaching food safety rules.

The fast-food outlet was fined by the NSW Food Authority for unacceptable food practices, including failing to prevent the likelihood of contamination and using unclean equipment.

Health ­inspectors found the Bridge Rd outlet had dirt, grease and food waste on the floors, walls and food storage areas.

Investigators also found food exposed to contamination and staff not washing their hands properly when preparing food.

The store also failed to have sealed walls and ceilings.

“This was obviously disappointing and is unacceptable and inconsistent with our track record when it comes to restaurant cleanliness,” a McDonald’s spokeswoman said.

“We took immediate action to address this … to prevent any re-occurrence; crew members have been retrained, we are conducting more regular audits and have reinforced our procedures.”

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