A Monash University student café has been forced to close its doors for two days in order to clean up its act following a string of disastrous council inspections found a multitude of food safety breaches.
Eight council health inspections found that Clayton’s Cafe Student Curries and Pizza restaurant failed to provide a safe and clean food premises, resulting in the business and its former director copping more than AUD $67,000 in fines and court costs.
According to the Herald Sun’s Leader article, the business breached multiple food safety laws including inadequate pest control, having bags of food stored on the toilet floor and a broken fridge and a deficient hot water system.
Unsatisfactory facilities for hand washing found on the premises would likely have made it difficult for the staff to maintain good personal hygiene and grime and grease was reportedly found covering multiple pieces of cooking equipment and much of the restaurant itself.
Appalling food safety
Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) have issued more than 68 notices for not complying with the Food Act 2006 and Mr Navdeep Singh, the former company director, missed his appearance in the Moorabbin Magistrates Court, where he was to face 28 charges of breaching food safety laws.
After not attending his hearing, Singh was convicted of the numerous changes and was issued with fines and costs totalling AUD $43,000. The company was also convicted and received almost AUD $25,000 in fines and costs.
Cafe student curries and pizza back in business
After closing for two days to rectify the food safety breaches, the EHO’s were evidently satisfied with the cleanliness of the café and it was allowed to reopen – however minus its former director who has evidently moved back to India.
This story serves as a reminder of some of the potential consequences of not maintaining a high level of food safety, not only for individuals who becoming sick as a result of incorrectly handled or prepared food, but also for the business itself and its executives.
One of the best ways in which to protect your business against food safety breaches is hiring an appropriately trained Food Safety Supervisor. For more information on how to enrol in a nationally accredited Food Safety Supervisor course – visit our course page!