Melbourne Restaurant Admits to Food Hygiene Breaches
Little Tim Tam, a restaurant in Melbourne's Prahran suburb, has admitted to breaching food safety standards. The restaurant faced legal action from Stonnington Council after failing to pay a fine issued following the discovery of cockroaches and rodent droppings on the premises.
Rodent droppings on shelves near the kitchen
A live cockroach inside a hole in the wall
Raw meat stored above fruit intended for customer consumption
Despite being fined $1,800 for these breaches, Little Tim Tam failed to pay the fine, leading to the prosecution.
Magistrate Michael Gurvich expressed his disapproval of the restaurant's actions, calling the breaches "unacceptable" and "revolting." He emphasized the public's right to expect hygienic food preparation and fined the restaurant $1,000, additionally ordering them to pay $2,000 towards the council's legal fees.
The restaurant's lawyer, Mr. Newton, attributed the non-payment to financial struggles during the pandemic and other outstanding fines. He expressed regret for the situation.