Rats don’t deter diners
A Chinese restaurant in Sydney’s west accused of having rotten meat and food prepared in a rat- and cockroach-infested kitchen is still serving customers. Best 1 Barbecue, at Burwood, was slapped with eight health defect notices by the NSW Food Authority seven weeks ago, in addition to infringement notices issued by Burwood Council. Horrors allegedly seen by inspectors included meat not in a cool room, filthy walls and a “build-up of grease and oil, cockroach bodies, rodent and cockroach excreta”. All but one defect had since been “rectified”. A spokesman said the authority had been forced to intervene after restaurant staff threw meat at a council inspector. The inspector had been investigating a complaint that customers were being served spoiled food, prepared with dirty water. Laws allowing the authority to name restaurants flouting food laws take effect later this year, but will not extend to councils. The Burwood restaurant was identified by a local newspaper after the paper urged residents to forward complaints about the eatery to Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald. Sunday Telegraph, April 20.
