An Auburn business fined for allowing live vermin in a food storage area is one of a further 23 businesses to have made it onto the Food Authority’s pioneering name and shame website this week, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said today. “From today, the website shows the details of 253 food businesses in NSW that have received fines for 401 violations of food safety laws,” Mr Macdonald reported. “In the four months since the site was launched, the Authority is publishing... ...Read more »

Further laboratory of a faeces sample provided from the much-publicised ice-cream incident at the Coogee Bay Hotel in Sydney have proved inconclusive as to its origin, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said. “Tests by the NSW Food Authority have been unable to determine the origin of the faecal sample because of insufficient good quality DNA material in the sample,” he advised. “An earlier test showed that it was faecal matter, but was unable to determine if it came from... ...Read more »

The issue of food safety has reared its head again following the much-publicised finding of faeces in a dessert at a Sydney hotel. The food sample supplied by the family involved in the Coogee Bay Hotel ice cream complaint has tested positive for faecal matter, NSW Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, said yesterday. Minister Macdonald said preliminary laboratory test results carried out by the NSW Food Authority saw the sample test positive for bilirubin. “Further DNA analysis by the... ...Read more »

The NSW Government is investigating allegations of breaches of food safety at a Sydney hotel, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.The NSW Food Authority has now received an official complaint about the alleged incident at the Coogee Bay Hotel on October 5, in which it has been suggested that a family was served ice cream laced with human faeces. “This is an issue of public importance and it is essential we speak to as many parties involved in the alleged incident to get... ...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 majority... ...Read more »

A Sydney sushi retailer has been hit with fines of over $60,000 after being caught for “serious breaches” of food safety legislation. Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the $61,250 fine imposed by the Chief Industrial Magistrates Court on Su-Shi World Australia Pty Ltd sends a very clear message to food industry operators who try to cut corners. “This fine reflects that food safety in this state is not to be taken lightly and that this Government takes its responsibility... ...Read more »

The Iemma Government and local councils will conduct targeted inspections across Sydney restaurants, as part of a major crackdown on food outlets, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald announced today.The announcement comes eight weeks after the introduction of food safety laws empowering councils as food safety enforcers and new “name and shame” legislation  allowing the NSW Food Authority to publish food law violations on its website. Mr Macdonald said a joint taskforce between... ...Read more »

The NSW Government’s Name and Shame Website has been embraced by the public with more than 25,000 hits since the website was set up on July 1, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald reported yesterday. The Minister advised that almost 50 offences have already been published, with consumers showing strong support for the site. “From today there are 46 offences listed on the Food Authority website and in just over three weeks, the name and shame register has had more than 25,000... ...Read more »

Food outlets, local governments and other interested parties are being invited to take part in an extensive review of Victoria’s Food Act. The Food Act 1984 regulates the sale of food in Victoria, to ensure food is safe and suitable for human consumption and a number of possible changes to the current legislation have already been outlined. “The Brumby Government is taking action to ensure the highest standards of food safety for all Victorians,” Health Minister Daniel Andrews... ...Read more »

A dozen NSW food outlets are the first to be named and shamed on the State Government’s website for food law violations, Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said today.The new Food Authority website provides details of the 18 breaches and fines, valued at almost $7000, imposed on the 12 food businesses by the Authority and local councils. “The Iemma Government has delivered on its promise to give consumers better access to information about the performance of food outlets,”... ...Read more »