Popular bakery risks health with safety breaches, faces $100,000 fine
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If you’ve ever strolled along Scarborough Beach Road, the aroma of freshly baked pastries from Brighton Bakery might have lured you in.
For years, this family-run bakery has been a local favourite, even earning the coveted title of 'Best Meat Pie in WA' and racking up awards at the Perth Royal Show and the WA Baking Industry Gala.
But behind the glass cabinets and golden crusts, a recent court case has revealed a much less appetising side to this beloved institution.
In July last year, environmental health officers paid a visit to Brighton Bakery.
They uncovered a series of food safety nightmares that would make even the most iron-stomached among us queasy.
Over a two-month period, inspectors conducted seven separate inspections, each time finding more reasons for concern.
Among the most alarming discoveries were uncovered raw meats stored right next to ready-to-eat salads, foods kept at temperatures far above safe levels, and cheese tarts on display that, when tested, were found to contain high levels of toxin-producing bacteria.
This bacteria can cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea—definitely not the kind of 'surprise' you want with your morning tea!
The problems didn’t stop there. After finding unsafe storage of sushi, meats, and dairy, officers issued a prohibition order banning the sale of certain high-risk foods like pate, raw egg, mayonnaise, and sushi.
But when they returned the very next day, they found six-packs of sushi still on display. The sushi was hastily removed and hidden in a chest freezer, but the damage was done.
Inspectors also found milk five months past its use-by date, dead insects in a piping bag, herbs stored on the floor, mouldy and unlabelled dough, and eggs that were cracked, broken, or deformed.
When told not to use the eggs, staff ignored the warning—empty cartons were found in the bin and egg products were still for sale the next day.
The list of breaches reads like a horror story for food lovers: ready-to-eat foods sitting on old newspapers and cardboard, open butter stored above chemicals, paint flaking into food, and surfaces caked with dirt, grease, and food waste.
Equipment was in disrepair, with a fridge that didn’t work, a corroded mixing machine, and a hot plate missing a knob.
Perhaps most concerning was the temperature of the food.
Cheese pies and sausage rolls were found at 26.3°C (well above the safe limit of 5°C), and sushi and rice paper rolls were also dangerously warm.
These conditions create a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Owners Thi Thuy Hong Dinh and Van Vuong Dong, who arrived in Australia as refugees from Vietnam in 1980, have been pillars of the local community for decades.
Their lawyer described them as good people who had become careless and overwhelmed by the demands of running a busy bakery.
The court acknowledged their contributions but ultimately fined them $24,800 each, with their company, Thinh Vuong Pty Ltd, copping a $100,000 penalty.
Brighton Bakery, once the pride of Scarborough, has now been put up for sale. It’s a sobering reminder that even the most celebrated businesses can fall foul of the rules if standards slip.
Food safety is something we often take for granted, especially at our favourite local spots.
However, this case serves as a wake-up call: even award-winning bakeries can have serious lapses.
If you ever notice something off—strange smells, dirty surfaces, or food that doesn’t look quite right, don’t be afraid to speak up or report it to your local council. Your health is too important to risk.
Have you ever had a bad experience at a bakery or café? Do you think food safety standards are slipping, or is this an isolated case? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories—share them in the comments below.
Read more: Gold Coast bakery Pane Organico fined $40k after discovery of flies, mould and pigeons
For years, this family-run bakery has been a local favourite, even earning the coveted title of 'Best Meat Pie in WA' and racking up awards at the Perth Royal Show and the WA Baking Industry Gala.
But behind the glass cabinets and golden crusts, a recent court case has revealed a much less appetising side to this beloved institution.
In July last year, environmental health officers paid a visit to Brighton Bakery.
They uncovered a series of food safety nightmares that would make even the most iron-stomached among us queasy.
Brighton Bakery in Scarborough was fined $100,000 after health inspectors uncovered serious food safety breaches. Credit: @brightonbakery / Instagram
Over a two-month period, inspectors conducted seven separate inspections, each time finding more reasons for concern.
Among the most alarming discoveries were uncovered raw meats stored right next to ready-to-eat salads, foods kept at temperatures far above safe levels, and cheese tarts on display that, when tested, were found to contain high levels of toxin-producing bacteria.
This bacteria can cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea—definitely not the kind of 'surprise' you want with your morning tea!
The problems didn’t stop there. After finding unsafe storage of sushi, meats, and dairy, officers issued a prohibition order banning the sale of certain high-risk foods like pate, raw egg, mayonnaise, and sushi.
But when they returned the very next day, they found six-packs of sushi still on display. The sushi was hastily removed and hidden in a chest freezer, but the damage was done.
Inspectors also found milk five months past its use-by date, dead insects in a piping bag, herbs stored on the floor, mouldy and unlabelled dough, and eggs that were cracked, broken, or deformed.
When told not to use the eggs, staff ignored the warning—empty cartons were found in the bin and egg products were still for sale the next day.
The list of breaches reads like a horror story for food lovers: ready-to-eat foods sitting on old newspapers and cardboard, open butter stored above chemicals, paint flaking into food, and surfaces caked with dirt, grease, and food waste.
Perhaps most concerning was the temperature of the food.
Cheese pies and sausage rolls were found at 26.3°C (well above the safe limit of 5°C), and sushi and rice paper rolls were also dangerously warm.
These conditions create a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Owners Thi Thuy Hong Dinh and Van Vuong Dong, who arrived in Australia as refugees from Vietnam in 1980, have been pillars of the local community for decades.
Their lawyer described them as good people who had become careless and overwhelmed by the demands of running a busy bakery.
Brighton Bakery, once the pride of Scarborough, has now been put up for sale. It’s a sobering reminder that even the most celebrated businesses can fall foul of the rules if standards slip.
Food safety is something we often take for granted, especially at our favourite local spots.
However, this case serves as a wake-up call: even award-winning bakeries can have serious lapses.
If you ever notice something off—strange smells, dirty surfaces, or food that doesn’t look quite right, don’t be afraid to speak up or report it to your local council. Your health is too important to risk.
Read more: Gold Coast bakery Pane Organico fined $40k after discovery of flies, mould and pigeons
