Pandus in West Footscray among Maribyrnong businesses fined for poor food safety

A POPULAR Indian restaurant in West Footscray and a cocktail bar in Yarraville have been slapped with fines for food safety breaches, including dirty equipment and inadequate hand-washing facilities.

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A POPULAR Indian restaurant and a cocktail bar have been slapped with hefty fines for food safety breaches.

The owner of Pandu’s restaurant in Barkly St, West Footscray was found guilty of storing food at unsafe temperatures and not being clean enough.

The business failed “to maintain all fixtures, fittings and equipment ... to a standard of cleanliness where there is no accumulation of food waste; dirt; grease; or other visible matter”.

Proprietor Prasanth Madala was fined $3108 and ordered to pay $212 in legal costs by a Sunshine magistrate on November 17 last year.

Mr Madala has been contacted for comment.

Maribyrnong Council officers filed charges after a January 2017 inspection.

Also on November 17 last year, the council won convictions against two other businesses, including Yarraville cocktail and tapas bar Acqua E Vino.

Owner Pure Investment Group Pty Ltd was convicted of failing “to maintain at or near each hand wash facility, a supply of warm running water and soap or other items that may be used to thoroughly clean hands” and was fined $1555.

The bar has since closed and calls to a number listed online went unanswered.

Acqua e Vino bar in Yarraville has now closed.

Big Shine Hand Carwash in Maidstone was fined $1600 for failing to provide inspectors with appropriate details about food sold on site.

Businesses are required to present the name and address of the vendor, manufacturer or packer of food for sale.

The carwash now appears to be closed.

All of the convictions were recently listed on a Department of Health register which names and shames offenders for at least 12 months.

All businesses that handle, prepare or sell food are inspected by council officers at least once a year, with the cost to ratepayers partially offset by registration fees.

Maribyrnong Council offers a confidential tip line to report food poisoning or suspected food safety violations.

Visit maribyrnong.vic.gov.au or phone [phone] to make a tip.

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@edjgardiner