The operators of one of Melbourne's best-known Chinese restaurants, the Red Emperor in Southbank, have pleaded guilty to multiple charges after it was found last year infested with cockroaches, mouse droppings and fruit flies. This resulted in a short closure of their premises and fines of some $15,000.
Numerous breaches of the Food Act were noted such as failing to store food to protect it from likely contamination, handling food for sale in a way that will likely render it unsuitable, and failing to maintain food premises to a standard of cleanliness so there was no accumulation of food waste, dirt, grease and other matter.
Defence barrister Jamie Singh said his clients, who had no prior convictions, were ashamed and shocked but genuinely remorseful for the offences and took "extreme steps to make the place clean".
This unfortunate situation and many others can be avoided with use of the Pest Management Handbook for Food Service Operators – this handbook provides Food Service Operators best practice guidelines for the management and prevention of pests and to comply with existing laws and requirements. For further information on the Pest Management Handbook for Food Service Operators, visit the AEPMA
website.