Gold Coast bakery Pane Organico fined $40k after discovery of flies, mould and pigeons
- Replies 0
A popular Gold Coast bakery that operated without a food licence for seven months has been fined $40,000 after health inspectors found live pigeons, an infestation of flies, congealed food waste and mould.
Pane Organico Italian Bakery was charged with 35 offences under the Food Standards Act, including selling unsuitable food, handling food for sale in a way that will or likely make food unsuitable, and contravening condition of licence.
On Wednesday, Southport Magistrates Court heard that Pane Organico's director and baker, Luigi Incampo, was present when Gold Coast City Council health officers inspected the bakery on multiple occasions in October 2022, December 2023 and July 2024.
Incampo pleaded guilty.
Special counsel representing the City of Gold Coast, Jaclyn Poulton, told the court inspectors found "mould congealed on a trolley" next to an "uncovered bucket of cream" along with a "thick layer of fat" over a cooking surface where "dust had accumulated".
Ms Poulton showed the court photographs of a fly on prosciutto, an uncleaned meat slicer, live pigeons within the bakery, congealed food waste around an egg white container and an accumulation of grease around drains.
Other photos showed feathers on the floor of the food preparation area.
Pane Organico's representative Philip Whitehead told the court the bakery had been operating since August 2018 and, though it remained registered with ASIC, had now "closed doors".
He said Incampo did not excuse "the overall lack of cleanliness" but that he worked up to 14 hours a day and had only three sales staff employed to assist him.
Mr Whitehead said the bakery had also seen sales decline due to construction on the light-rail project nearby.
He said Incampo, 72, regretted the incidents but could not keep up with the demands of city health inspectors.
In sentencing, Justice Lisa O'Neill said the bakery had shown a "repeated failure to remedy breaches" and that microbiological testing had shown some of the food could have caused sickness.
No conviction was recorded.
By Dominic Cansdale
Pane Organico Italian Bakery was charged with 35 offences under the Food Standards Act, including selling unsuitable food, handling food for sale in a way that will or likely make food unsuitable, and contravening condition of licence.
On Wednesday, Southport Magistrates Court heard that Pane Organico's director and baker, Luigi Incampo, was present when Gold Coast City Council health officers inspected the bakery on multiple occasions in October 2022, December 2023 and July 2024.
Incampo pleaded guilty.
The director of Pane Organico has been slapped with a $40,000 fine after pleading guilty to dozens of charges. (ABC Gold Coast: Mackenzie Colahan)
Special counsel representing the City of Gold Coast, Jaclyn Poulton, told the court inspectors found "mould congealed on a trolley" next to an "uncovered bucket of cream" along with a "thick layer of fat" over a cooking surface where "dust had accumulated".
Ms Poulton showed the court photographs of a fly on prosciutto, an uncleaned meat slicer, live pigeons within the bakery, congealed food waste around an egg white container and an accumulation of grease around drains.
Other photos showed feathers on the floor of the food preparation area.
Unlicensed trading
Pane Organico's food licence was suspended on February 9, 2024, but the business continued operating for seven months and did not return its licence to council officers as required, the court heard.Pane Organico's representative Philip Whitehead told the court the bakery had been operating since August 2018 and, though it remained registered with ASIC, had now "closed doors".
He said Incampo did not excuse "the overall lack of cleanliness" but that he worked up to 14 hours a day and had only three sales staff employed to assist him.
Mr Whitehead said the bakery had also seen sales decline due to construction on the light-rail project nearby.
In sentencing, Justice Lisa O'Neill said the bakery had shown a "repeated failure to remedy breaches" and that microbiological testing had shown some of the food could have caused sickness.
No conviction was recorded.
By Dominic Cansdale
