The NSW Food Authority has reported that 10 per cent of food businesses investigated in the state have failed recent food safety inspections. Of the 23,000 food outlets inspected by local councils in the last six months of 2008, around ten per cent were found to breach or were alleged to have breached NSW food safety laws. The nature of alleged offences ranged from failing to maintain food premises to the required standard of cleanliness, to operating a food business without a license, and evidence... ...Read more »

Two Western Sydney butchers have copped fines totalling more than $15,500 for attempting to rip off consumers by disguising sub-standard meat, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said today.The NSW Food Authority has won prosecutions against the two butchers totalling nine breaches for illegally “dosing” meat with the preservative sulphur dioxide (SO2). “This chemical is used to mask old or poor quality meat to make it look redder and more appealing to consumers, but the practice... ...Read more »

The NSW Government has launched a major crackdown on food outlets across Sydney’s CBD in the lead up to the hectic summer period, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald advised today. “A joint taskforce has been formed between the NSW Food Authority and Sydney City Council,” he said. “Food Authority inspectors are already out there visiting outlets in the CBD in a series of unannounced inspections – this will continue for the next few months.” “The vast... ...Read more »

In only eight weeks the NSW ‘name and shame’ website for food law breaches has reached the 100 mark, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald reported on Sunday. There are now 101 food outlets in 31 NSW council areas listed on the Food Authority website with a total of 163 offences. “Twenty-eight new offences have just gone up on the name and shame website, including a café in the Blue Mountains that was fined $330 for permitting an animal in the food handling area,” Mr Macdonald... ...Read more »

New food safety standards that will give added protection to people in hospitals and aged care facilities came into effect on 18 August, 2008.The Vulnerable Persons Food Safety Scheme will mean NSW’s 1,300 public and private hospitals and aged care facilities will be required to have mandatory food safety programs. The new laws, which will protect vulnerable people in the community including seniors and those that are unwell, mean that hospitals and aged-care facilities will be subject to regular... ...Read more »

A NSW Food Authority safety survey of bakery products has revealed that 1 in 4 Vietnamese-style rolls tested scored either “unsatisfactory” or had “marginal” satisfactory levels for human consumption, but overall the industry was typically meeting strict food safety guidelines. The survey of 125 small non-supermarket bakeries was conducted over eight months by the NSW Food Authority and 40 local councils. “The good news is that out of almost 700 samples, the vast majority... ...Read more »

A public health investigation is underway at a Blue Mountains nursing home following a recent outbreak of gastroenteritis in residents of Endeavour Nursing Home in Springwood. Dr Jeremy McAnulty, Acting Deputy Chief Health Officer, said Sydney West public health officials are investigating two outbreaks which occurred in mid and late June, affecting 25 and 58 residents respectively. “Affected residents experienced mild symptoms, consisting of one to two days diarrhoea,” Dr McAnulty advised.... ...Read more »

A record fine of $132,000 has been handed to the owner of a chain of Sydney poultry meat shops for a string of food law offences, Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, said today.Hai Bao Chen, the proprietor of five shops trading as Obo Fresh Chicken, was convicted of 22 charges under the Food Act including unhygienic premises, substandard maintenance and poor pest control. In February this year, the company was also fined nearly $12,000 for illegally adding sulphur dioxide preservative to... ...Read more »

Pioneering new laws that empower local councils as food safety enforcers and allow the government to publish food law violations are to come into effect next month. Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the Food Amendment Act 2007 comes into effect on July 1, formally recognising the food regulation responsibilities of 152 NSW councils. “Within a year 100s of premises are expected to be named on the Food Authority Website,” he said. “This Name and Shame legislation is about... ...Read more »

A man has received a record fine after more than 8,000 oysters (703 dozen), which were unsafe for human consumption, were seized at the Sydney Fish Market, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.Terry Allan Harding was fined a record-high $42,000 for five offences relating to the harvest and sale of unsafe oysters. Mr Harding, from Port Macquarie, was charged by NSW Food Authority officers with harvesting oysters from the Hastings River while all the harvest zones on the river were... ...Read more »