As we cherish the moments spent dining out and savouring Australia's diverse culinary scene, it's crucial to know if these establishments uphold the highest food safety and hygiene standards.

Unfortunately, not all restaurants meet these expectations, as a local food authority's latest report became a sobering reminder for food lovers across the state.

In a recent crackdown, the NSW Food Authority released a list of restaurants in Sydney that were fined for breaching food safety standards.

The violations listed ranged from food contamination, lack of cleanliness, and selling food past its use-by date, among others.

The list could help the public make informed decisions about dining choices across the city.

Restaurant kitchens should always stay clean, sanitised, and free of pests to avoid contamination or food poisoning. Image Credit: Pexels/Rene Terp

Within the last three months, about $90,000 of fines were levied against various New South Wales restaurants.

Yet, one suburb emerged as a hotspot for food safety breaches.

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A chunk of restaurants based in Burwood faced some hefty fines related to food safety violations.

Eateries like Leung Kam Kee, 1915 Lanzhou Beef Noodles, D'Penyetz and D'Cendol, and Rickshaw Food were all penalised for failing to meet food safety standards.

Malaysian restaurant Pot & Sizzle received five separate infringement notices, totalling fines of approximately $5,000.

The fines were for failing cleanliness standards on food contact surfaces.

The list also revealed fast food giants that have been repeat offenders.

Despite previous warnings, Hungry Jacks in Leumeah got fined for not maintaining their food premises clean within food safety standards.

A McDonald's branch in Taree also received two fines related to cleanliness issues.

The list also included numerous upscale dining establishments.

Restaurant Toshiya, a Japanese fine dining spot, got fined for not meeting the required cleanliness standards.

Blue Monkey Thai, located in the upscale suburb of Rose Bay, was fined $1760 for two offences, which included failing pest control standards.

Hong Kong Kitchen in Chatswood also got caught for improper food storage, which could cause contamination.

True to the Bean, a café in the Blue Mountains, got fined for allowing smoking near unprotected food or working surfaces.

Yass Valley's local IGA store got fined for selling food past its use-by date.

Pepper's Pizza in Darlinghurst also faced consequences for serving food without notifying appropriate agencies.

Dozens of restaurants were also fined for lesser offences, such as failing to maintain handwashing facilities.

The list highlighted a systemic issue within the industry which should require both consumers and businesses to be more attentive to food safety practices.

It's essential to stay informed about the places you dine at and to support establishments that prioritise food safety.

For those who have concerns about a restaurant's hygiene practices, you may report them to your local food authority.

Food safety is not the restaurant's responsibility; it's a shared concern for everyone who enjoys the culinary experience.

Key Takeaways

• Restaurants across New South Wales were named and fined by the NSW Food Authority for breaching food safety standards.
• Burwood emerged as a hotspot as multiple restaurants in the suburb faced significant fines for various food safety violations.
• Fast food chains and upscale establishments also faced fines for food contamination, lack of cleanliness, and other compliance failures.
• The NSW Food Authority believed that naming and shaming these restaurants could help consumers make informed decisions about where to eat.

Have you ever had a bad experience at a restaurant? How do you make sure that the places you eat in follow food safety standards? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below!

 

[Luckyus]

There's a very old saying that if you saw what went on the kitchen of some restaurants! etc.? teh you wouldn't eat there.

 

[Jest]

how often do you see tables being wiped down with the samecloth maybe a spritze of water.

 

[Veggiepatch]

No surprise that most of the offenders are Asian food outlets.

 

[mOiOz]

No surprise that most of the offenders are Asian food outlets.

Sticks out like a sore dumpling!

 

[Catherines]

Many years ago I worked in the restaurant section of a large well-known department store which served coffee, cakes, small meals etc. (store chain still operating in Brisbane). Many tables were wiped with the same cloth after dishes had been placed on trays to be removed. The same cloths were re-used on multiple tables until the dishes from a few different tables were loaded onto the trays. When the trays with dirty dishes were taken back into the kitchen/wash up area only then was the cloth ‘rinsed’ in bleach/soap water. So it’s not new to now find that standards have slipped considerably. Not nice!

Just look at the cleaning methods used in the eatery areas of shopping centres.

 

[Veggiepatch]

I don't remember the last time I ate at an Asian restaurant.

Sometime last century?

 

[Jest]

No surprise that most of the offenders are Asian food outlets.

tuttut

 

[mOiOz]

tuttut

It's a fact.., the results were the same overseas... mostly Asian restaurants. They simply don't have the same standards of hygiene in their countries, usually due to poverty!!!

 

[Veggiepatch]

tuttut

Have you ever walked through a shopping centre with a proliferation of Asian food suppliers?

"Cooked animals" of unknown species, hanging up in shop windows, unrefrigerated and uncovered, totally at the mercy of blowflies and other vermin.

Would you purchase such "produce"?

 

[Jest]

It's a fact.., the results were the same overseas... mostly Asian restaurants. They simply don't have the same standards of hygiene in their countries, usually due to poverty!!!

I will bet there are plenty of dirty aussies in the food industry.

 

[Jest]

Have you ever walked through a shopping centre with a proliferation of Asian food suppliers?

"Cooked animals" of unknown species, hanging up in shop windows, unrefrigerated and uncovered, totally at the mercy of blowflies and other vermin.

Would you purchase such "produce"?

i do not walk through shopping centres and if i did i would not be purchasing from any such sellers. where are the inspectors? another gutless ooutfit.

 

[Rosi Gordon]

I think that eateries that have failed the cleanliness or hygiene standards should be posted for everyone to see so then people can either risk still going there or avoid it all together and maybe these places will do better to stay in business.

 

[mOiOz]

I will bet there are plenty of dirty aussies in the food industry.

Not denying that, but still not the majority!

 

[KerrieO]

We need an App where one can search for rating and/or health reports (good, bad and ugly) of every hospitality business (whether cafe, restaurant, food truck, hotels etc). One only has to read about saliva spray to start dry reaching. And whilst I'm on my soap box, I think everyone that works around food should wear masks mandatorily because they chat and laugh whilst preparing/serving food (this includes baristas). Hairnets would be a good idea too. In addition, most people wash their hands only after going to the bathroom and even then some don't. Stay at home and eat, it's safer lol.

 

[Annna]

I will bet there are plenty of dirty aussies in the food industry.

Yes.

 

[Veggiepatch]

I will bet there are plenty of dirty aussies in the food industry.

And kiwis.

 

[Veggiepatch]

i do not walk through shopping centres and if i did i would not be purchasing from any such sellers. where are the inspectors? another gutless ooutfit.

Do you crawl along the streets and in shopping plazas?

 

[NotNats]

Im too poor to eat out, so none of these effect me.

 

[Luckyus]

It's a fact.., the results were the same overseas... mostly Asian restaurants. They simply don't have the same standards of hygiene in their countries, usually due to poverty!!!

I spent a lot of time in South East Asia and I used to eat where the locals ate in my years there never once had Delhi Belly.