Brisbane City Council issues 445 infringements to businesses for breaching food safety standards and collects more than half a million in fines

DEAD rats, cockroaches and food hanging over kitchen sinks are just some of the disgusting finds by Brisbane City Council food inspectors in recent years.

The council has revealed its worst offenders are among Brisbane’s most popular eateries including Fortitude Valley’s Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant, Subway in Chermside Westfield and Ahmet’s Turkish Restaurant in South Bank.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the council had raked in more than $500,000 in fines from businesses breaching standards and had successfully prosecuted 27 cases.

Cr Quirk said in the past financial year it had cancelled food licences on 18 occasions and issued 48 immediate suspensions to businesses in breach of food safety standards as well as 620 improvement notices.

“Council also issued 445 fines to businesses during the year and finalised prosecution of 27 successful cases of Food Act 2006 breaches with fines totalling $579,700, for incidents,” he said.

Cr Quirk said its Eat Safe program, which was implemented in 2010, aimed to boost health and safety standards in licensed food businesses including both mobile food vendors to restaurants.

“Under EatSafe, offending businesses are clear on exactly which areas they are not meeting standards in, so they can improve or face strict enforcement from Council,” Cr Quirk said.

“Food safety is a very serious issue, which is why we issue improvement notices or fines to businesses with minor offences, and throw the book at businesses with major offences by suspending food business licences, prosecuting or cancelling food licences.”

Cr Quirk said the council’s 33 full-time officers completed an average 28 audits each day, giving each business a star rating out of five.

Officers use an extensive 44-point checklist, with 90 per cent of Brisbane’s 7044 licenced food businesses achieving three star ratings or higher.

“A total of 6248 scheduled mandatory audits and 1212 investigations in response to complaints were completed over the year, reinforcing our commitment to protecting the health and safety of the community,” Cr Quirk said.

“Despite a five per cent increase in the number of licenced food businesses in Brisbane, the EatSafe program has achieved a strong compliance for food businesses and 300 additional businesses achieved a three star or above rating this year than the previous year.

“Demand for establishing food businesses in our city is also booming and Brisbane foodies will be spoiled for choice with 7044 licenced food businesses now operating in Brisbane, which is 364 more than a year ago.”

Brisbane City Council Lifestyle chair Cr Krista Adams urged residents to report businesses by calling 3403 8888.

For more information visit brisbane.qld.gov.au.

AMONG THE PROSECUTIONS

Sushi Nikkou: Upper Mt Gravatt fined $30,000 in July 2014 for handling food that was unsafe, failing to comply with improvement notice.

Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant: Fortitude Valley: fined $38,000 in February 2015 for food storage, food processing, cleanliness, maintenance, animals and pests, general requirements, storage facilities, carrying on a licensable food business without a licence to carry on the food business and failing to ensure the corporation does not breach the Food Act 2006 twice.

Ceylon Inn Bulimba:Fined $25,000 in May 2015 for food storage, hygiene of food handlers - duties of food businesses, cleanliness, maintenance and animals and pests and failing to ensure the corporation does not breach the Food Act 2006.

Subway Chermside Westfield: Fined $20,000 in March 2015 for food processing, cleanliness, cleaning and sanitising of specific equipment, maintenance and animals and pests and failing to ensure the corporation does not breach the Food Act 2006.

Ahmet’s Licenced Turkish Restaurant South Bank: Fined $25,000 in May 2015 for sale of unsuitable food, handling of unsuitable food, cleanliness, maintenance and animals and pests.

Source: Quest Newspapers, Jessica Haynes, July 29^th 2015
Originally published as: Brisbane City Council issues 445 infringements to businesses for breaching food safety standards and collects more than half a million in fines