Gold Coast restaurant food safety ratings and shocking fails

Gold Coast businesses racked up more than 80 fines for food safety breaches totalling $60k last financial year. See the full list and find out how your favourite restaurant rates.

Gold Coast food businesses racked up more than 80 fines for food safety breaches totalling more than $60,000 last financial year.

Gold Coast City Council data revealed of the 84 fines handed out in 2022-23, 15 of these were issued to food businesses in Southport, followed by 13 in Robina and six in Mermaid Waters.

But a now-closed Worongary fish and chips restaurant copped the heftiest fine of $25,000 after the council took it to Southport Magistrates Court earlier this year over breaches to the Food Act.

In 2022-23, Gold Coast City Council issued 84 fines to food businesses for not complying with the Food Act 2006. Source: Gold Coast City Council

Court documents stated RL & TL Pty Ltd, trading as Ocean Grill, was found guilty of three counts of fail to comply with requirement imposed by food standards code.

It was charged after a “significant build-up” of food waste, grease and dirt was found in various parts of the premises and on equipment during a council inspection in April last year.

Another charge related to cutlery, a plate and storage baskets not being cleaned and sanitised adequately before use.

The restaurant was formerly located at shop 12/1 Mudgeeraba Rd Worongary and listed online as “permanently closed”.

Photos taken inside the kitchen of the now-closed Ocean Grill fish and chips restaurant, which was formerly located at shop 12/1 Mudgeeraba Rd, Worongary.

A council spokeswoman said safety was its number one priority.

“Environmental health officers look at a wide range of issues in food businesses such as temperature control, safe food handling and storage, cleaning, pest control and hand washing,” she said.

On the Gold Coast, food businesses receive a star rating based on their food safety performance under the City’s Eat Safe program.

They can use this star rating to promote themselves.

Food businesses considered excellent performers receive five stars, very good performers get four stars and good performers receive three stars.

There are a number of reasons why a business may not display its star rating.

This can be because the business:

– received a food safety rating of less than three stars;

– received a food safety rating of three or more stars but has chosen not to have its star rating made public;

– is a domestic water distributor or short term, temporary food stall. These activities are not given a star rating;

– is a food vehicle licensed in another local government area which does not have an ‘Eat Safe’ program;

– sells food deemed to be low-risk and therefore does not require a food licence under state legislation;

– has not applied for a food licence, even though it is required to. This is an offence under the Food Act 2006.

Anyone who believes they have become ill due to eating out or getting takeaway food should report the issue to council as soon as possible on 07 5667 5988.

Originally published as Gold Coast restaurant food safety ratings and shocking fails