Court Fines Kam Fook Seafood Restaurant For Unclean Kitchen

By Dan Hutton on April 12, 2011 in Food

Waverley Council recently prosecuted Evergolden Enterprises Pty Limited trading as the Kam Fook Restaurant Bondi Junction and its director Rosetta Oi Ling Lee for a total of seven offences under the Food Act 2003 in Waverley Court.

“Council had previously fined the restaurant’s owner and had also given notices to comply with the Code,” Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said. “Unfortunately, this restaurant has had a history of non-compliance with the Food Standards Code. Council’s inspections showed the restaurant’s kitchen did not meet the high standards required under the Code and that there was a cockroach infestation.”

“The restaurant’s owner and its director failed to comply with the Food Act and Council’s notices, which put their customers at risk. So, Council decided to take the strongest action possible by prosecuting the owner of the restaurant and its director.”

Mayor Betts said the Court imposed fines and costs totalling in excess of $50,000 (including a $10,000 fine for an offence involving a cockroach found in a customer’s gow gee).

“The Court in sentencing accepted the offences were serious and imposed penalties that would not only punish the defendants but also act as a deterrent to any similar future conduct by the restaurant’s owner and to others in the food industry.”

“In imposing the penalties, the Court noted that it was a reasonable expectation of the public to be able to dine in a safe and hygienic place.”

“This is a huge win and definitely sends out a strong message that Waverley Council will not tolerate unhygienic and unsafe food premises in its area. And that we take our community’s safety seriously. If you handle food, you have to take the utmost care otherwise we will pursue the matter and name and shame them.”