Cairns restaurant health and hygiene complaint statistics revealed

From food poisoning to rodents, the numbers are in for all of the hygiene complaints received about Cairns restaurants last year.

FROM roaches to rancid food, the numbers are in for all of the official hygiene complaints lodged about Cairns restaurants last year.

Cairns Regional Council is the go-to agency when diners have gripes about hygiene breaches at the city’s restaurants.

It conducted 1123 routine inspections and 252 follow-up inspections last year.

During that period, it received 118 complaints about food premises, issued 26 improvement notices and slapped five operators with fines.

Complaints ranged from businesses operating without a licence, to alleged hygiene concerns and suspected food poisoning – the latter of which were referred to Queensland Health.

In Queensland, breaches to the Food Act can attract a maximum cost of 1000 penalty units – totalling $137,850 in fines – or two years’ imprisonment.

The council’s planning, growth and sustainability director Ed Johnson said the council took a proactive approach to food safety concerns, with a focus on education.

“Good food safety is important and helps to protect people’s health and wellbeing,” he said.

“Officers work with local businesses and the figures show that the vast majority of food outlets in Cairns are safe and comply with requirements.

Restaurant complaints range from licence issues to hygiene concerns and suspected food poisoning.

“If breaches are found, those traders are provided with advice and instructions to assist them remedy the issue and improve their practices in order to continue trading.

“Notably, no food premises had their licences suspended for breaches last year.”

The council has also released the six biggest complaint categories across the board for 2021, ranging from tree issues and potholes to stray dogs and dodgy parking.

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Originally published as Cairns restaurant health and hygiene complaint statistics revealed