Bakery owner fined over cockroaches

Henderson's Mekong Hot Bread Shop had to close for a day and a half after a severe cockroach infestation was found in July. Picture / Dean Purcell

The owner of an Auckland bakery has been sentenced for breaching standards by having a "severe cockroach infestation" in her premises.

You Sim Be, who operates The Mekong Hot Bread Shop in Henderson, was fined $600 and ordered to pay court costs of more than $130 when she appeared at Waitakere District Court yesterday.

A charge against co-defendant Kong Hour was withdrawn.

Be had earlier pleaded guilty to a single charge of being the owner of a shop providing food that breached standards by having a severe cockroach infestation.

The charge was laid by the Auckland Council.

Outside court yesterday Be said she had been complacent about cleaning under the fridge, where the roaches were found, and was relieved the case was over.

She said cleaning under the fridge had become a priority.

"Nothing is wrong with the shop right now. We do more cleaning every day now."

The infestation was discovered when council inspectors made a spot check of the Bruce McLaren Rd business in July.

Be said the bakery was shut down for one-and-a-half days before the council gave the all-clear that the insects had been exterminated.

The council had immediately dropped the business' hygiene grading to E, the lowest possible.

Yesterday the council website showed the shop had a B grading, meaning it meets the "minimum statutory requirements".

A council spokesman said premises graded E were closed down immediately until the reasons for the rating were fixed. Officials would consider prosecution, depending on the circumstances and registration could be withdrawn if the prosecution was successful. A search of the council website revealed just 21 outlets out of hundreds across the region had the lowest grades possible - E, or D in the area formerly run by the North Shore City Council, which used a different system.

The council spokesman said people with concerns about food outlet hygiene could contact it on (09) 301 0101.

Problem premises

Grade E
Unsatisfactory compliance*

Central Auckland: Dumpling Delight; Grind on High
Henderson: 7AM Cafe; Dim Sum King; Saaj Indian Cuisine Lincoln; Silverbell Market
Manukau Central: Trend East Restaurant
Manurewa: Absolute Fresh
New Lynn: Nikau Superette; Qin Hai Company Ltd; Spring Trading Ltd
Otahuhu: Pakwan Indian Restaurant
Papatoetoe: Golden Drum Takeaways
Remuera: Sichuan Restaurant in Remuera
Te Atatu Peninsula: Papa Tasty Kebabs
Te Papapa: The Pie Shoppe

Grade D
Serious food safety concerns**

Albany: Fat Boys Tavern
Northcote: Busy Horse Takeaways
Takapuna: Ba Shu Feng Restaurant
Wairau Valley: Surasang; Star Cafe Seafood Restaurant***
Source: Auckland Council

*Lowest grade in areas formerly run by Auckland City, Franklin, Manukau, Papakura, Waitakere and Rodney councils
**Lowest grade in the area formerly run by North Shore City Council
*** Star Café Seafood Restaurant in Wairau Valley has since been upgraded from D to A after a re-inspection on Friday, December 14.