Geraldton restaurateur cops fine for food code violations

A Geraldton restaurateur has copped a $8000 fine or repeated food code violations last year, including breaches involving safety, cleanliness and food left unrefrigerated and uncovered. The sole director of J J Lee Enterprise Pty Ltd, which trades as the Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant on Marine Terrace, Hui Jiang, 37, appeared in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on Thursday to plead guilty. Both the business and Jiang himself were charged with breaches of Food Standards Code regulations after health officers found the restaurant failed to store food in a way that protected it from contamination and ensuring staff have appropriate food handling and safety knowledge. Prosecutor Tim Beckett told the court the restaurant came to the attention of City of Greater Geraldton health officers on July 29 when an inspection of the premises found food exposed to potential contamination. “Food was stored incorrectly, unrefrigerated and uncovered,” he said. “Officers wrote to the proprietor explaining the scenario and what changes needed to be made.” Later, on September 12, a complaint against the restaurant was filed by a member of the public who filmed “a significant quantity of chicken defrosting in large bucket of water uncovered outside”. He said officers made four follow-up inspections over the next four months which failed to see meaningful changes in operating by Jiang and the Golden Dragon restaurant. “Multiple inspections and warnings by the City went unheeded by the proprietor,” he said. “Health officers elected to only file two charges as this is the first offence by these proprietors.” In court, Jiang defended himself saying the restaurant had “been trying to improve” since he was notified by health officers. The Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant has been operating in Geraldton for less than a year after opening on February 27 in the premises previously occupied by restaurant China Moon. J J Lee Enterprise Pty Ltd was fined $6000 and ordered to pay court costs of $573.70, while Hui Jiang was fined $2000 with court costs of $573.70 by Magistrate Chris Miocevich. “People need to get the message to comply with the Food Act,” he said. “In effect the total fine is $8000. Hopefully that sends the message to you that you need to comply with the notices or you will receive heavy fines.”