Hunter and Central Coast food shame: Standards slip as restaurants, cafes cop fines
Since the start of 2019, a number of Hunter and Central Coast well-known and popular eateries have been slapped with on-the-spot notices, with some being penalised several times.
Newcastle
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A number of eateries across the Hunter and one on the Central Coast have been named and shamed on the NSW Food Authority’s register, with food and premise standards slipping to unacceptable levels.
Since the start of the year, 10 of some the region’s well-known and popular eateries have been slapped with on-the-spot notices, with some being penalised several times.
The most recent breach, Saigon Feast on Hunter St was ordered to clean up their act in September for failure to have adequate hand washing facilities and were fined $440.
In July, Cardiff Bakehouse was slapped with a $1100 fine for two breaches which included failing to ensure live animals were not permitted in areas where food was handled and handling food intended for sale in a manner that was likely to render food unsuitable.
A franchise at Edgeworth was also called out. After a previous warning, Henny Penny copped a $880 bill for failure to maintain their premises and equipment in a good state of repair and working order.
In April and May this year, two Port Stephens eateries were hit.
Deepka Indian Restaurant at Raymond Terrace failed to maintain their food premises to the required standard of cleanliness and failed to eradicate pests despite a warning given.
It copped a combined $880 fine.
Kelp at Shoal Bay was also ordered to cough up $880 for failure to ensure supervisors had the skills and knowledge in food safety and hygiene matters.
A popular café on Darby St was also slapped with an $880 fine.
The Three Monkeys failed to take all practical measure to process only safe and suitable food.
One café, which has since closed, was the worst offender, with four black marks against its name.
The Locale at New Lambton was slapped with over $3500 in fines after it failed to take all practical measures to process safe and suitable food; did not ensure food contact surfaces were clean and sanitary; failed to protect single use items from contamination and failed to prevent pests.
In January, two Asian eateries were also told to get their act together.
The busy Dumpling Story in Hamilton had to pay a $440 on-the-spot fine for failing to maintain accessible hand washing facilities and this came after a previous breach in August last year. At that time they were penalised for failing to ensure food contact surfaces were clean and sanitary.
Lastly in the Hunter, Superwok Chinese in Edgeworth wasn’t able to escape a penalty when they were fined a combined $880 for failure to maintain the premises to the required standard and failing to eradicate pests.
The good news for diners on the Central Coast though, there was only one recorded breach since the start of the year.
Ocean Restaurant at The Entrance was slapped with a $880 fine for failing to ensure live animals were not permitted in areas in which food was handled.
Local councils are tasked with doing regular checks, sometimes by surprise, of most food businesses in their local government area and enforce penalties if needed.
A Lake Macquarie Council spokesperson said they work closely with 750 retail food businesses trading in the area to minimise the risk of food-borne illness by promoting a high standard of safety.
“Our role is to conduct regular inspections of food premises and follow up complaints from members of the public,” she said.
“The random unannounced inspections by Council are designed to assess compliance with the Food Act and (national) Food Safety standards.
“If a premise is found to be non-compliant, we provide advice and support to the operators to bring their facility up to standard ahead of a re-inspection.”
The Newcastle News contacted all eateries named on the list for response.