Court fines BJ restaurant for unclean kitchen

Waverley Council has prosecuted Evergolden Enterprises Pty Ltd, trading as the Kam Fook Restaurant Bondi Junction, and its director Rosetta Oi Ling Lee in Waverley Court for seven offences under the Food Act 2003.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said the council had previously fined the restaurant’s owner and given notices to comply with the Code.

“Unfortunately, this restaurant has 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,” she said.

“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 we decided to take the strongest action possible by prosecuting the owner and director.”

The mayor said the court imposed fines and costs totalling more than $50,000, including a $10,000 fine for an offence involving a cockroach found in a customer’s gow gee.

She said in sentencing the court had accepted the offences were serious and imposed penalties that would punish the defendants and act as a deterrent in the food industry.

“The court noted it was a reasonable expectation of the public to be able to dine in a safe and hygienic place,” Councillor Betts said.

“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.”