Glen Waverley restaurant Raramen owners apologise to customers for filthy conditions after $19,000 fine

And Monash Council has defended its decision to allow Raramen at 106 Kingsway to continue operating after the initial March 3 inspection despite up to eight subsequent inspections revealing further evidence of insects and rodents.

The restaurant, which is still open for business, achieved full compliance with the Food Act in July.

Last month, Dumpling Hut Pty Ltd, which owns Raramen at 106 Kingsway, and company director Siu Hin Yip, pleaded guilty to 17 charges under the Food Act 1984 and the Food Standards Code and were fined $19,000.

Horrified Leader readers took to social media to express their revulsion, with comments including “I can’t believe we ate here” and “That’s disgusting”.

The director, Siu Yin Hip, replied to Leader by email on Friday.

“The business apologises to our customers,” she wrote.

“We have reviewed and implemented changes to our food handling and safety procedures.

“Raramen is now compliant with the Food Act and safety requirements.

“The business will continue to ensure it is compliant with the Food Act and safety requirements.”

Readers commenting on social media also demanded to know why the business was allowed to keep operating after the March 3 inspection.

“Surely that sort of discovery warrants immediate closure until such time as council is satisfied it’s cleaned up,” Murray Nicholas wrote.

“Why fine them why not shut them down,” Geoff Gilbert wrote.

But Monash Mayor Paul Klisaris said if a business was found to be noncompliant with the Food Act 1984, the council conducted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance.

“Improvements were continually made at Raramen from March until full compliance was achieved in July,” Cr Klisaris said.

“Council does have the authority to close a business but that only happens in extreme situations such as when there is an immediate health risk.

“In this instance, our Environmental Health Officers determined that there wasn’t an immediate risk to public health.”

Cr Klisaris said it was ultimately the proprietor’s responsibility to ensure they prepared and stored food properly so that their customers did not fall ill.

He said every Monash food premises was inspected at least once a year, with council officers conducting about 1300 inspections a year or 25 a week on average.

In the past 12 months, 13 fines were issued to Monash food premises and two food businesses, including Raramen, were convicted.

The other business convicted was Dream Cakes Cafe in Chester and Westminster streets in Oakleigh, the first of which is no longer trading.

“The overwhelming majority of food premises in Monash are clean and meet the standards set by regulators,” Cr Klisaris said.

Source: Waverley Leader, Julia Rabar, 7^th August 2015
Originally published as: Glen Waverley restaurant Raramen owners apologise to customers for filthy conditions after $19,000 fine