Legal crackdown on dodgy eateries

Documents released under freedom of information show dozens of Canberra eateries could face court over poor hygiene standards.

The ACT Government has published documents relating to its enforcement of food safety laws on its FOI website.
The health documents show authorities successfully prosecuted three Canberra eateries under the Food Act earlier this year.
Another 18 prosecution briefs were submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration as of March 30, and a further 28 cases were being prepared for submission.
The documents also show that 42 prohibition orders were issued against Canberra restaurants in 2011, up from nine the previous year.
To the end of April this year, 11 notices had been issued.
The documents also detail incidents where public health inspectors faced aggressive and intimidating behaviour by restaurant owners.
In one instance police were called.
The papers also show the Government has begun billing unsafe eateries hundreds of dollars for the cost of reinspecting their premises.
Health Protection Service director John Woollard says it is unclear what is behind the increase in critical breaches.
"Vermin infestations, rats, mice, cockroaches, through to filthy businesses, temperature control where foods aren't maintained at the correct temperature, a lack of hand washing facility those sorts of things," he said.
"All of those things in their own right are critical breaches and when they're combined they become quite problematic."
The Government is still considering how to implement a scores on doors rating scheme for food safety standards.
Mr Woollard says evidence from overseas shows it can work.
"There is evidence from overseas, where it's quite widespread, that it is an effective strategy," he said.
"I think that there is value in doing it but it comes at a cost. There are a range of implementation issues that we would need to wrestle with and work closely with the community and industry with, if it was to be brought forward."
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says the scheme requires extensive industry consultation and is at least a year away.
"Certainly any changes we make to legislation would be dealt with in the next Assembly. So there's just a bit more work to be done there. I would certainly believe legislation passing the Assembly would probably take the next year," she said.

Safety supervisors

Ms Gallagher has today released a discussion paper on the introduction of food safety supervisors.
Eateries will be required to appoint a specially-trained food safety supervisor from August 2013.
"Food businesses have an obligation to ensure food is safe for public consumption. A food safety supervisor will undergo specialist training to ensure they can supervise and train others in safe food handling," Ms Gallagher said.
The paper is open for public comment until September 14.

Suspect kebabs

The documents also show five people were admitted to hospital with food poisoning after the National Multicultural Festival in February.
The main event of the festival is the food extravaganza where hundreds of stalls sell food from around the world.
A ministerial brief about this year's Multicultural Festival categorises the festival as a high-risk event in terms of food safety.
Over the Friday and Saturday of the festival, eight public health officers conducted about 100 formal inspections and many more 'walk-by' inspections.
There were three breaches of food safety laws resulting in the destruction of food.
The document goes on to say there were 11 cases of food poisoning linked to the festival, with eight laboratory confirmed cases of salmonella.
Five of the eight cases resulted in hospitalisation.
The brief says investigations have linked the food poisoning to two kebab stalls.