Dirty eateries escaping shame

by Rhys Haynes, The Daily Telegraph:

"THEY are some of Sydney's filthiest kitchens and they remain a secret to the city's diners.
Thanks to a loophole in the State Government's name and shame list, the "worst of the worst" restaurants that are shut down immediately rarely make it to the Food Authority's official list.
Instead, they are either re-opened after passing further examinations by inspectors or added to a separate "prosecutions" list, if they are convicted and fined in court.
The Daily Telegraph today lists those restaurants that have eventually made the prosecutions list - most of which never made it to the name and shame list since it came into law in July 2008.
There have been more than $500,000 worth of fines handed down since January 2008, with most recording a shocking list of infringements including filthy equipment, live rodents or pests in kitchens and one even serving a bread roll with a cockroach embedded in it. ...
Lavera Pizza and Pasta in Glebe was fined $50,000 and prosecuted for a string of nine food safety offences including serving a salad containing a cockroach. ...
Sources have told The Daily Telegraph the current system allowed inspectors to issue a prohibition order, for example, when a restaurant was not deemed fit to remain open. They could then allow the restaurant to be re-opened after a further inspection, with the name of the establishment never made public.
Councils said they had no authority to publish the information and would hand it to the Food Authority if asked.
The Government's Food Authority said it was considering "enhanced publication of inspection information" but further legislation might be required.
"The majority of prohibition orders lead to further enforcement action such as penalty notices or court prosecution," a spokesman said. "As in all legal proceedings there is a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
"Businesses alleged to have broken the law can challenge fines." "

Read the full article from Sydney Central here.