Todd Buzza fined over Pontiac Burgers and Wings, Vermont South, food safety breaches

A pop-up suburban burger bar near The Burvale pub and available on food delivery service apps last year has been nabbed for dirty work practices, including storing meat at an unsafe temperature. Did you fall victim to ordering from here?

Pontiac Burgers and Wings used to trade in Vermont South. Picture: Facebook/Kamal Tailor

The man behind a pop-up burger stand that operated in Vermont South and Mitcham last year has been convicted for repeatedly violating health and safety standards.

Inspectors found Pontiac Burgers and Wings, located next to the Burvale Hotel in May 2018, used dirty cooking equipment, didn’t store potentially hazardous food under temperature control or in a way to prevent contamination, and was run by staff who were not skilled in food safety and hygiene.

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The business has been listed on the State Government’s convictions register website.

Whitehorse Leader believes the business was operated out of a pop-up stand in the carpark at 397 Burwood Highway, Vermont South, which remains closed on-site.

Pontiac Burgers and Wings was listed on UberEats.

Whitehorse Council inspected the unregistered food premises on May 1, 2018, and found it lacking sufficient light to operate, adequate handwashing facilities, or a way of effectively disposing of waste water.

The council took owner Todd Buzza to Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on November 29 2018, where he and his business were fined a total of $30,000.

The court heard the business continued to operate violating many of the standards raised on May 1, at a subsequent inspection on May 7, and kept running unregistered until at least May 18.

The business was located in the carpark at 397 Burwood Hwy, Vermont South. Image: Google Maps.

Buzza was convicted of “assault(ing), obstruct(ing) or attempt(ing) to obstruct, threaten, abuse, insult, intimidate” an officer acting under the Food Standards Code on May 14 and May 18, and of contravening an order made against the business on May 16 and May 18.

In the same month, the businessman was slammed with more than $300,000 in fines by the Federal Circuit Court for exploiting workers at his previous burger outlets, Burger Buzz, located in Brunswick and West Melbourne.

Buzza was listed as living in Vermont South in December 2013 when the director of Consumer Affairs Victoria issued a public warning about “the former bankrupt” man advising he was offering cheap building services under several names, and taking payment for work that was not done or was incomplete.

A burger from Pontiac.

Pontiac Burgers and Wings then began operating in Mitcham at 367 Mitcham Rd in July 2018 according to the business’ Facebook page, but only offered a delivery service.

Whitehorse Council confirmed the business was no longer operating in Whitehorse, but would not comment further.

Buzza did not respond to Whitehorse Leader’s request for comment.

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