Food businesses in New South Wales have been told to clean up their act after a large number of penalty notices were issued to those failing to maintain adequate hand-washing facilities.

Over the past 12 months, there have been about 170 offences related to handwashing listed on New South Wales Food Authority’s ‘Name and Shame’ register.

Federal Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson said, “Hand-washing is at the very foundation of correct and safe food handling.

Just this week two businesses will be added to the Name and Shame list for handwashing related penalty notices: Ruby’s Café and Takeaway at Pendle Hill and Muffin Break at Hunters Hill, both in New South Wales.

Ms Hodgkinson added, “Each penalty notice carries a fine of A$880 for a corporation and A$440 for an individual as well as the unenviable honour of being placed on the Name and Shame list where consumers can easily see the breaches of their local food outlets.”

Under the Food Standards Code a food handler must take all reasonable measures not to handle food or food surfaces in a way that is likely to compromise the safety and suitability of food.

The full list of penalty notices and prosecutions can be found at www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/penalty-notice

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