Uptick in food poisoning and unlicensed restaurant complaints

A stomach-churning number of complaints have been lodged against Cairns restaurants and cafes in the past year revealing a significant upward trend in reporting of food hygiene concerns.

A stomach-churning number of complaints have been lodged against Cairns restaurants and cafes in the past year revealing a significant upward trend in reporting of food hygiene concerns.

In the 2020-21 financial year, in an increase of 93 from the previous year, Cairns Regional Council received 107 complaints about restaurants and cafes.

But a grievance increase of 57 per cent in three years has meant 169 complaints lodged about local food businesses in the 2023-24 financial year reporting period.

The latest figures represent an increase of 37 complaints compared to 2022-23.

A total of 169 complaints were lodged about local food businesses in the 2023-24 financial year.

Of the 169 complaints there were 73 concerns about food hygiene compared to 77 in the previous period, 63 for alleged food poisoning up from 35 in 2022-23 and 33 complaints were for suspected unlicensed food business.

A Cairns Regional Council spokeswoman said rather than a punitive approach the authority attempted to educate restaurants and cafes about improving food preparation and venue cleanliness.

If breaches are found, restaurants are provided with advice and instructions to help them remedy the issue and improve their practices in order to ensure continued trading.

“Generally, council takes an education-first approach to complaints about food premises, allowing them to rectify minor breaches,” the spokesman said.

“This could be by way of a fine or improvement notice.

“Where complaints are of a serious nature, council may suspend a food licence meaning the business can no longer prepare food.”

Typical food-related complaints relate to issues such as rats, cockroaches and flies, incorrect storage of food including products not kept under temperature control which can contribute to food poisoning

Inadequate hygiene practices were also complained about which may consist of poor cleaning of food preparation surfaces and equipment.

During the 2023/24 financial year, council took enforcement action against Cairns restaurants, eateries and cafes 66 times and four venues had their food licences suspended.

Suspensions consisted of major breaches of the food standards code but businesses can have their food licence restored once breaches have been rectified and there is no longer a risk to public health.

Council declined to name the restaurants which had their food licences suspended.

Increasing complaints follow an investigation of 35 businesses in Cairns’ fast food, restaurant and cafe sector in Cairns City, Cairns North, Palm Cove and Trinity Beach by Fair Work.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said “disappointingly” of 31 investigations finalised, the watchdog found 23 businesses or 74 per cent had breached workplace laws.

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Originally published as Uptick in food poisoning and unlicensed restaurant complaints