The Berwick Palace Chinese Restaurant has been fined for failing to comply with food laws.
By Rebecca Fraser
A BERWICK Chinese restaurant has been fined $10,000 for failing to comply with food laws.
The City of Casey’s Environmental Health team took the operator of the Berwick Palace Chinese Restaurant, in High Street, to court last month in relation to numerous charges under the Food Act 1984.
Joe Chao, manager of Berwick Palace Chinese Restaurant, pleaded guilty in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 31 May to two counts of handling food intended for sale that would render, or was likely to render, it unsafe and six counts of handling food that would render, or be likely to be rendered, unsuitable.
He also pleaded guilty to one count of failing to comply with various provisions of the Food Standards Code.
Mr Chao was convicted and fined $10,000 for failing to comply with the food laws between March 2005 and January 2006.
The breaches included food storage, handling and cleanliness issues such as food being left out overnight, potentially hazardous preparation and cooking methods, and food being stored at inappropriate temperatures creating high bacterial counts.
City of Casey chief executive officer Mike Tyler said this was one of the largest fines imposed for this type offence on one individual.
“On behalf of the City of Casey, I welcome Magistrate (Edwin) Batt’s ruling which takes into account the seriousness of breaching food laws and endangering the health of unsuspecting patrons,” he said.
Mr Tyler said the council’s environmental health team had worked with the defendant at length to resolve a range of hygiene and other food safetyrelated issues, however, when the defendant disregarded the advice of officers, the team proceeded to take him to court.
Mr Chao said the restaurant had recently improved its food practices and hired new staff.
He said the restaurant had also put in place new stainless steel benches and made changes to the cool room.
Mr Chao said his restaurant was safe and staff had undergone a food safety program.
