Dirty utensils, rat droppings: Sydney’s worst food safety breaches revealed
Burger restaurants, chicken shops and kebab outlets are among the latest businesses fined for violating food safety and hygiene standards in NSW.
Dirty cooking utensils, rat droppings scattered through kitchens, and drinks contaminated with caustic soda are among the stomach-churning scenes uncovered during recent inspections of the state’s food businesses.
Sydney’s reputation as a world-class dining city is being marred by new figures revealing a growing number of eateries are failing to meet basic safety standards, prompting calls for businesses to be required to display the inspection reports on their shopfronts.
A photo of non-compliant handwashing facilities taken during an inspection by Willoughby Council this year.
Data released by the NSW Food Authority this month shows 949 infringement notices were issued to businesses for violating food standards in the 2024-25 financial year – up from 908 the previous year.
The authority also issued 8243 warning letters – up from 7458 the previous year – and complaints from members of the public about retail food businesses increased from 6093 to 6258.
The most common breaches related to unclean food premises, improper food storage, poor handwashing facilities, unclean fixtures and poor pest control.
Haymarket’s The Eight had the most fines issued to an individual food outlet.
The Chinese restaurant received seven infringements for alleged offences, including failing to take practicable measures to eradicate and prevent harbourage of pests, during inspections by the City of Sydney in January and February this year.
This masthead contacted the restaurant for comment about the fines but did not receive a response.
A public “name and shame” register, maintained by the NSW Food Authority, showed businesses in Blacktown City Council received the most penalties, with 33 food outlets fined since January.
It was followed by Chatswood (16 businesses), Lakemba (12 businesses) and Campbelltown and Mount Druitt (each with eight businesses).
On top of fines and warning notices, businesses suspected of serious breaches of the NSW Food Act can face prosecution by the NSW Food Authority. Four cases were finalised last financial year.
In September last year, the Fraternity Bowling and Recreation Club in Fairy Meadow was fined $29,500 in Wollongong Local Court for four offences, including sale of unsafe food and non-compliant food handling practices, after two patrons were served drinks containing caustic soda.
