Peter Conroy of Conroy’s Bakehouse fined over rat droppings at dirty Rye bakery
The putrid state of a Rye bakehouse full of rat droppings, dead insects and mould has been laid bare in stomach-churning photos. It comes as the owner fronted court and offered up excuses for the disgusting conditions.
South East
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The owner of a rat dropping-infested, dirty, grimy, mouldy insect-laden Rye bakery has been hit with an $8000 fine over nearly 60 food safety breaches.
Peter Conroy’s Dundas St business Conroy’s Bakehouse had been plagued with pest and cleanliness problems from late 2017 and throughout most of 2018.
Over a period of around nine months Mornington Peninsula Shire inspectors discovered a litany of gross violations, including repeatedly finding rat droppings on floors, shelves and near stored flour.
They also uncovered mould growing on sliced beetroot, “visible matter” on shelves, fridges and equipment, and cold food that was being stored at high temperatures.
The 45-year-old from St Andrews Beach has since closed his business, saying he had to walk away for financial and stress reasons.
Shire prosecutor Gustav Cook told Frankston Magistrates’ Court on September 20 “the business was not in a good state”.
The court heard council officers found rat droppings, dead insects, food waste, cobwebs, dirty floors and surfaces, holes in the ceiling, contaminated cutting boards, incorrectly stored food and greasy and grimy equipment during inspections carried out between December 2017 and September 2018.
Mr Cook said the bakery’s cleanliness was “poor over a substantial period of time”.
“It was a systematic failure,” Mr Cook said.
“Rodent droppings were listed in 12 offences, there was mould on the beetroot; it is a wonder no one got sick.
“This is one of the most serious (food violation cases) committed over such a prolonged period of time.”
Conroy pleaded guilty to 59 charges and told the court he had been running businesses for 20 years, never before having any problems.
Now unemployed, the single father of two said at the time he was under a lot of family stress at home and worked long hours, and had since closed the business and sold his home.
“No one became ill, I never had a complaint, and I’ve not been notified of any illness,” Conroy said.
“Looking back I should have taken time off and closed for a while.”
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Magistrate Julian Ayres said he accepted that Conroy was under significant personal pressure at the time.
“He just didn’t become a bad businessman overnight,” Mr Ayres said.
“There is no suggestion anyone became ill, but there was potential (for people to become sick).
“These failures did occur on a number of occasions and he had the opportunity to comply, but didn’t.”
Conroy was fined $8000 and ordered to pay shire costs of $340. No conviction was recorded.