Revealed: Brisbane eateries hit with food safety, hygiene fines
From poor hygiene to terrible food safety, these venues have been caught out. SEE THE LIST
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A dead bird, cockroaches, pest poo and filth — dozens of rule-breaking Brisbane eateries have been fined for unsafe food practices.
Filthy eateries across Brisbane have been harbouring rodents and pests, storing food unsafely, and even operating without proper handwashing facilities according to shocking details of food safety fines issued to some of the River City’s most popular restaurants.
The Courier-Mail can exclusively reveal that Brisbane City Council issued almost $600,000 in fines last financial year to 56 businesses who were found to be in breach of the Food Safety Act.
The fines ranged from $700 to $35,000.
Civic cabinet chair for city standards Sarah Hutton said council worked with every business to ensure they met high food safety standards.
“There are currently almost 7700 food businesses in Brisbane and we work with every single one of these businesses to ensure they meet our high food safety standards,” Ms Hutton said.
“A majority of food businesses do the right thing, but if any are found to breach our high standards they will be prosecuted to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors.”
Queensland Health is responsible for requirements relating to labelling and composition of food, while local governments are responsible for the licensing and inspection of food businesses.
Historically, Queensland Health published a register of prosecutions under the Act, however that ceased more than decade ago.
Here are some of the businesses brought before the court in the past year:
King Tea, Paddington
King Tea, in Paddington, trading under Livin La Vida Latroba Pty Ltd was fined $23,000 after the “revolting” discovery of rodent faeces and mould on the premises.
The company, along with general manager Dane Huitfeldt, each pleaded guilty in April to 10 Food Act breaches identified by a Brisbane City Council officer on September 6, 2022.
Council prosecutor Amye Fairbairn said the officer observed several breaches of the Food Standards Code in relation to food storage, uncleanliness, maintenance, the rear storage area lacking a ceiling and “most significantly” rodents.
Defence lawyer Adam Dwyer said his clients were “very embarrassed and remorseful”.
Huitfeldt, who ran four other food businesses alongside King Tea, had never previously come to the attention of council’s food inspectors before, Mr Dwyer said.
The court heard King Tea had previously been given a four out of five star rating by council in October 2021.
Huitfeldt was fined $2500 for his role in the breaches.
No convictions were recorded for either defendant.
Mr Curry, Fortitude Valley
Another popular eatery, Mr Curry Pty Ltd was fined in February this year after the discovery of “black rodent grease”.
The Brisbane Magistrates Court heard that a council inspector had visited Mr Curry’s takeaway restaurant on Brunswick St in August 2022 after receiving a complaint about rodents.
An improvement notice was issued after the discovery of rodent faeces, but another inspection two months later found that no pest controller had been engaged and rodent faeces was still present.
Mr Curry Pty Ltd and its director Yoshinobu Takano, 44, pleaded guilty to one count each of failing to comply with an improvement notice and three counts each of contravening a condition of a food business licence.
Defence barrister Lauren Gamble said neither defendant had any past conviction for food safety breaches.
Mr Curry Pty Ltd was fined $20,000 and Takano was fined $1800. No convictions were recorded.
The restaurant has since permanently closed.
Fridays, Brisbane
AVC Operations Pty Ltd, which operates Fridays on Eagle Street in the CBD, was fined thousands after cockroaches were discovered at the iconic riverside bar.
The company pleaded guilty in April to six counts of failing to comply with a requirement imposed by food standards code in relation to conduct of food business.
The Brisbane Magistrates Court heard how a council inspector discovered a number of breaches when they attended the bar on November 25, 2022.
These related to food storage (protecting from contamination and temperature control), failing to provide paper towels, cleanliness of premises, a loose tap and cockroaches.
Council prosecutor Amye Fairbairn said the discovery of numerous live and dead cockroaches around the kitchen caused the venue to be shut down from November 28 to December 2.
The company, which had no previous convictions, was fined $25,000 with no conviction recorded.
Triton Food Brokers, West End
Huashi Holdings Pty Ltd, operator of Triton Food Brokers in West End, was fined earlier this year over the discovery of rodent droppings on the premises.
Brisbane City Council prosecutor Jodie Crane said the supermarket was audited in January 2023 after complaints of rodents.
Droppings were located in several locations throughout the venue, including on food storage shelves and near fridges.
“The general uncleanliness of the premises and lack of proper food storage in the warehouse provided a food source for the rodents and also harbourage points,” said Ms Crane.
The company, along with director Anna Dou, each pleaded guilty to eight Food Act breaches and eight breaches of licence conditions.
The Brisbane Magistrates Court heard the defendants had taken immediate and “commendable” efforts to address the issues following the audit.
Huashi Holdings was fined $25,000 and Dou fined $2000, with no convictions recorded.
Gino’s Restaurant, Hamilton
Popular Italian restaurant Gino’s Restaurant was fined last September after a customer found a cockroach in their pizza.
Brisbane City Council officers inspected the venue after a complaint was made, and identified “live and dead cockroaches and cockroach egg casings,” council prosecutor Chelsie Hirth told the Brisbane Magistrates’ Court.
“The presence of a cockroach egg sack indicates that the issue has been an issue for long enough that the cockroaches had entered into a breeding cycle,” she said.
The company and directors Edward and Sayed Doueihi entered pleas of guilty to eight counts each of contravening condition of licence under the Food Act.
Gino’s Italian Restaurant Pty Ltd was fined $18,000 and each of the directors were fined $1500. No convictions were recorded.
Originally published as Revealed: Brisbane eateries hit with food safety, hygiene fines
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