Bankstown Mayor pushes for mandatory food safety rankings to be displayed at NSW eateries

DISPLAYING food safety ratings in restaurant windows should be compulsory in NSW, according to a southwest Sydney mayor.

DISPLAYING food safety ratings in restaurant windows should be compulsory in NSW, according to a southwest Sydney mayor.

Scores on Doors, launched by NSW Food Authority in 2010, rates eateries out of five based on their annual food safety audits.

They are then handed a slick certificate to post up in view of customers.

However Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour is pushing for the scheme, which is currently voluntary, to be mandated across all eligible food outlets.

“We have been pushing the NSW Food Authority to make this program compulsory, which would certainly give diners confidence in knowing the restaurant they are about to enter has a high star rating, as well as reward our food operators for complying to food safety and hygiene standards,” he said.

Chester Hill Chicken Heaven owner Paul Hong, who scored a 5 out of 5 food safety rating, agrees Scores on Doors should be compulsory. Photo: Phillip Rogers

It comes after The Express revealed last week that the Canterbury-Bankstown region was among the worst regions for food safety breaches in 2015, second only to City of Sydney.

More than 100 fines of the state’s 1453 were issued to 72 businesses over the period.

The Food Authority falls under NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair’s portfolio.

However The Express’s request for comment was directed to Food Authority chief executive Dr Lisa Szabo.

When asked whether she would support mandating Scores on Doors state wide, Dr Szabo said the authority preferred to keep it voluntary.

“Displaying a Scores on Doors certificate can be a marketing advantage for businesses that comply with food safety legislation because it can provide a point of difference from competitors,” she said.

Fifty three of 152 councils in NSW have signed up to implement the program.

In south west Sydney only Bankstown and Liverpool are currently members.

Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour has been pushing the NSW Food Authority to mandate its Scores on Doors program.

The authority’s NSW Food Safety Strategy has set a target of 75 per cent business participation by 2021.

Bankstown Council has signed up 33 retail food businesses out of about 600 this financial year.

The scheme excludes supermarkets, delicatessens or greengrocers, service stations, convenience stores, mobile food vans and temporary markets.

Chicken Heaven owner Paul Hong, who proudly displays a five star rating in the window of the Chester Hill takeaway, agreed the program should be compulsory.

“Yes. Based on the individual [business] keeping up their cleanliness, hygiene and all that required in the food industry,” he said.

He said his business had seen a lift since he began displaying the certificate.

“Customers have given very good feedback … it has brought new customers in.”

Health inspectors are employed by councils to carry audit most food outlets, excluding butchers which require specialised testing on their meat by the authority.