Eateries face fines over food safety breaches
FAILURE to eradicate pests, "rodent activity" and simply not keeping premises clean were among the reasons 12 Hunter eateries were hit with fines from the region's councils in the past year for food safety breaches.
According to the NSW Food Authority's "name and shame" register, 20 fines were issued to the restaurants, cafes and outlets as part of councils' inspection regime.
Newcastle City Council and the Cessnock City Council handed out the most penalties of any council in the region - nine fines each. But Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Dungog and Upper Hunter councils did not issue any. The register names only those recipients who did not contest their fines in court, according to the authority.
In Newcastle, the penalty notices included two $440 fines to Hamburger Haven in Hunter Street for breaches in March and April for not maintaining all fixtures and equipment to required cleanliness standards, and failing to take "all practicable measures to eradicate and prevent the harbourage of pests" despite previous warnings.
The Wharf Lounge Bar at Honeysuckle was hit with three fines for being found in February to have pests and for failure "to ensure eating and drinking utensils [are] in a clean and sanitary condition."
Several Pokolbin eateries received fines this year from Cessnock City Council's inspectors. Buon Cibo, Oishi Japanese and Thai Restaurant, and Cafe Enzo were each fined twice, including for failing to prevent or eradicate pests.
Rodent activity was observed at the Empire Hotel in Railway Street, Kurri Kurri, in September last year, for which it was fined $880.
Councils are required to inspect all restaurants and cafes at least once a year. Newcastle, for example, has 961 premises to check.
Source: Newastle Herald, Michelle Harris, 20th November 2015
Originally published as: Eateries face fines over food safety breaches
