Chilli Jam Thai Penrith fined over $20K, fails to comply with food standards code

A popular Thai restaurant in a busy Westfield centre has been fined for storing uncovered raw meat on a cool room floor, keeping unclean knives above food and employing staff who “did not have sufficient skills in food safety nor food hygiene”.

A popular Thai restaurant in Penrith Westfield has been slapped with more than $20,000 in fines after failing to comply with food standards.

The inspection raised concerns including storage of uncovered raw meat on a cool room floor, keeping unclean knives above a food preparation area and unhygienic staff practices.

Kaidee Pty Ltd, the operator company of Chilli Jam Penrith, faced Penrith Local Court on January 21 following an inspection. Image: Google Images.

Kaidee Pty Ltd, the owner and operator company of Chilli Jam Thai Penrith, faced Penrith Local Court earlier this month following the unpleasant results of an inspection.

On May 25 2021, two environmental health officers from council carried out an inspection, revealing a number of “unsatisfactory conditions”.

The inspection revealed uncovered raw meat on a cool room floor and an uncovered bowl of chicken wings on shelving in the cool room. Both were not protected from contamination.

A container of prawns was thawing in a hand basin, preventing staff from being able to wash their hands there.

The officers noticed a number of unclean knives above the food preparation bench with their surfaces “having an accumulation of food waste, grease and other visible matter”.

There were unclean, deteriorated chopping boards unable to be effectively cleaned.

An unclean vent cover in the ceiling, covered in “dirt and grease”, and unclean ventilation grill in the food preparation area were also of concern.

Light fittings did not have diffused covers or protective sleeves in the food preparation area and some floor tiles were damaged and unable to be effectively cleaned.

The inspection revealed that “the staff employed by the food premises undertaking food handling did not have sufficient skills in food safety nor food hygiene due to the unclean nature of the food premises and the inappropriate storage and preparation of food”, according to court documents.

Historically, the restaurant has repeatedly failed to meet the requirements of the Food Act 2003 and Australia New Zealand Food standards code.

Chilli Jam Penrith has repeatedly failed to meet food standard codes, having been issued numerous improvement and infringement notices since it opened in 2015.

Chilli Jam Penrith was issued improvement notices in February 2016, November 2016, November 2017, May 2019, April 2020 and July 2020.

Penalty infringement notices were also handed to the restaurant with two being given in February 2017, two in February 2018 and four in October 2020.

Today marks the 7 years anniversary for us. Thank you for your support and love for the past years. 😍😍

Posted by Chilli Jam Penrith on Friday, January 21, 2022

In response to the court notices, sole director of Kaidee Pty Ltd – Suphon Juwattanasamran – wrote a letter to express “remorse on the offences under the food act 2003 NSW”.

Juwattanasamran said she has taken remedial actions to ensure food will be properly stored, has trained her staff and has hired a commercial cleaning company on a weekly basis.

The WA-based business director explained that times have been tough in recent years.

“I have not been able to come to Sydney to interact with my staff over the last 2 years and together with shortness of staff has made it difficult for the business to comply with all requirements under the food act.” the director’s letter submitted to court read.

Juwattanasamran expressed belief that the business will do better with the newly implemented procedures and changes.

Magistrate Stephen Corry convicted the company on 11 counts of fail to comply with Food Standards Code and fined them a total of $20,500.