Sydney restaurant hit with major fines for unsafe food practices
A popular Asian restaurant in Sydney was charged over $5000 in fines by the local council for failing to meet safe food handling practices.
Zilver at Westfield Bondi Junction was issued a total of five fines in August after the Waverley Council checked the place.
The information about the fines was shared on the NSW Food Authority's website after they were paid.
The restaurant’s major offence was for handling food ‘intended for sale in a manner that will render or is likely to render, the food unsafe’.
This single fine cost the business owners a hefty $1540.
During the same inspection, the restaurant received four more fines, each priced at $880.
Two fines were issued for not maintaining ‘the food premises to the required standard of cleanliness’ and ‘the premises, fixtures, fittings, and equipment in a good state of repair and working order having regard to their use’.
The other two were for failure ‘to ensure that persons undertaking or supervising food handling operations have skills and knowledge in food safety and food hygiene matters’ and ‘to take all necessary steps to prevent the likelihood of food being contaminated’ while handling food.
Efforts to get a comment from Zilver are underway.
How to lodge a food safety complaint in NSW
The NSW Food Authority works with councils to ensure food sold in NSW is both safe and accurately labelled.
Retail business complaints, except for those related to butchers, food allergens, or widespread food poisoning, should be directed to the local council (as each council enforces the Food Standards Code).
For specialised concerns, such as those about butchers, food allergens, multi-household food poisoning, and specific food safety and labelling, the Food Authority should be contacted.
Moreover, contact details for food enforcement agencies in other states or territories can be found here.
Members, have you dined at this Asian restaurant? How was your experience? Also, have you experienced any food safety issues at other restaurants? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Zilver at Westfield Bondi Junction was issued a total of five fines in August after the Waverley Council checked the place.
The information about the fines was shared on the NSW Food Authority's website after they were paid.
The restaurant’s major offence was for handling food ‘intended for sale in a manner that will render or is likely to render, the food unsafe’.
This single fine cost the business owners a hefty $1540.
During the same inspection, the restaurant received four more fines, each priced at $880.
Two fines were issued for not maintaining ‘the food premises to the required standard of cleanliness’ and ‘the premises, fixtures, fittings, and equipment in a good state of repair and working order having regard to their use’.
Efforts to get a comment from Zilver are underway.
How to lodge a food safety complaint in NSW
The NSW Food Authority works with councils to ensure food sold in NSW is both safe and accurately labelled.
Retail business complaints, except for those related to butchers, food allergens, or widespread food poisoning, should be directed to the local council (as each council enforces the Food Standards Code).
For specialised concerns, such as those about butchers, food allergens, multi-household food poisoning, and specific food safety and labelling, the Food Authority should be contacted.
Moreover, contact details for food enforcement agencies in other states or territories can be found here.
Key Takeaways
- Zilver, a popular Asian restaurant in Sydney, has been fined over $5000 by the Waverley Council for unsafe food practices.
- The offences were made public on the NSW Food Authority’s website once the fines were paid.
- The major offence was for handling food that could make the food unsafe for consumption, costing the business $1540.
- Four other fines were issued for failure to maintain cleanliness, keep premises and equipment in good repair, and ensure staff had adequate knowledge of food safety.