Dirty bakery named and shamed

By THERESA GARNER


Auckland's dodgy cafes, bakeries, restaurants and takeaway outlets will be named and shamed by the city council in the New Year.

The council will list Auckland's worst-ranked food outlets and might give the health ratings of all the city's 3500 food premises on its website.

The council says not enough people are aware of the A to E health rating system that each food outlet is required to display.

A popular central city bakery reopened with an E rating after being prosecuted by the council on 46 charges relating to cleaning, maintenance and food safety practice.

Inspectors discovered live cockroaches, rodent droppings and unsanitary food storage practices at the Hy Bakery on Karangahape Rd in September.

A staff member sprayed a cockroach to death with flyspray in front of the environmental health officer who visited, and the bakery was immediately closed for two weeks after an inspection.

Last month the operators faced 46 charges and were found guilty of 44 and fined $3960.

The bakery has reopened but, like other premises that could put the public at risk, must display its E rating.

When the Herald visited yesterday, Dorann Hy said she bought the bakery in September and that the poor hygiene was a legacy of the previous owner.

She was working hard to rebuild the bakery's reputation, she said.

The red E rating on the annual certificate of registration was prominently displayed behind the service cases, but none of the customers looked at it before buying sausage rolls and other items.

Bruce Hanley, who bought two sausage rolls for a workmate, said he normally looked for the health rating before he bought food but had not thought to check this time.

"I won't be back here again."

He said he planned to tell his workmate about the rating, and let him make up his own mind.

Another customer, his arms laden with brown bags, said he did not care about the rating but his female friend was more concerned. "Well, it was really nice of you to tell me," she said, walking off.

Another man left the shop without buying anything when asked if he knew about the health rating.

But a regular customer of more than a year, who did not want to be named, said the bakery was one of the cleanest around.

Environmental health officer David Vince said the Hy Bakery case was "one of the more serious cases of poor food safety we've seen".

There was a range of "filthy" areas, dirty and faulty appliances, mouldy storage containers, rodent droppings on the floor, and raw chicken was stored above cooked food.

"It was quite likely the food was going to get contaminated very quickly," he said.

"Two instances involving cockroaches were also observed, including a can of flyspray sitting on a bench in the kitchen and used in the presence of an inspector to kill a live cockroach."

Mr Vince said the council would not tolerate non-compliance.

"People expect to be able to purchase food that has been prepared properly in hygienic conditions and is healthy to eat."

Mr Vince said the council was looking at initiatives to promote the grading system. He knew some people would not be put off by a poor rating.

For more than a year, Manukau City Council has listed the area's food outlets with their health rating from A down to the bottom ranking of E.


The grades

Grade A - High standard of food hygiene.

Grade B - Satisfactory standard of food hygiene.

Grade D - Moderate standard of food hygiene.

Grade E - Unsatisfactory standard. Remedial work required.

There is no Grade C to avoid it being thought of as a pass grade.

Food outlets can apply for a regrade after two months.

Complaints

The council is not there to listen to complaints about bad service or bad-tasting food but welcomes complaints about food poisoning, cleanliness, rubbish, food storage, food preparation techniques, or smells. Phone 09 379 2020.