Chatime Chatswood Interchange fined by Willoughby Council for food hygiene breach

A popular Chatime outlet has been fined after a council inspection found the venue was allegedly breaching food hygiene standards. See the photos of the inspection.

A popular Chatime outlet has been fined after a council inspection found the venue was allegedly breaching food hygiene standards.

The Chatswood Interchange outlet of the global teahouse chain was issued an $880 infringement by Willoughby Council for the offence of failing to ensure food contact surfaces of equipment were kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

The fine was issued during a routine council inspection on July 23 and was published on the Food Authority website in October.

Photos taken by the council during the inspection showed the breach of food safety standards including front of house handwashing facilities being used for food preparation activities.

There were also no paper towels near the hand washing basin – with the towels instead hidden by food containers, according to Willoughby Council.

A photo taken during the inspection.

A council spokeswoman said the breaches did not meet Food Safety Standard due to a failure to ensure the food contact surfaces of equipment were kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

The fine came after the council issued previous warnings to the business during two previous inspections on August 31 and September 13 last year.

A photo showing towels located behind food containers.

The council spokeswoman said the venue was made aware of the requirement to ensure the sanitisation of food contact surfaces.

“It was determined during council’s inspection on July 13 that further regulatory action (a fine) for the prescribed offence was needed to encourage behavioural change and an improvement notice to remedy the situation,” the spokeswoman said.

Chatime was contacted for comment about the fine, but did not respond to questions at the time of publication.

The venue is the latest eatery in Chatswood to be issued with fines by the council as part of its food safety and hygiene compliance program.

“Council has a large number of registered food businesses within its local government area (and) is committed to protecting the health of the public and to upholding the Food Standards Code,” the council spokeswoman said.