Shocking photos of a rat infestation reveal why a Nando’s store in Perth copped one of the biggest food safety fines in years.
Nando’s Willetton was in May convicted of a string of Food Act violations, with The West Australian revealing the Portuguese chicken restaurant had been fined $160,000.
The offences in September included failing to take all practicable measures to prevent pests from entering and to eradicate them.
Images now obtained by The West show a dead rat under a sink, rat poo on a box of tomatoes and on the floor, mouldy surfaces, grease accumulated on the wall and filthy floor surfaces.
City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall said the rat infestation was especially the reason the local government took Nando’s to court.
“During a routine inspection of the premises, a rodent infestation was identified at the premises, which was considered to be a very serious public health risk, with evidence of rodents and rat droppings found throughout the food preparation and storage areas,” the mayor said.
“The seriousness of the food safety risks were such that legal action was warranted and in the public interest.”
The infestation was so bad that the City immediately directed the Nando’s to close and rectify the food safety issues.
“The business responded by closing, rectifying the cleanliness, maintenance, rodent infestation and related food safety matters and then subsequently reopened,” Mr Hall said.
The Willetton restaurant was also convicted for selling food past its use-by date, failing to avoid food contamination, failing to maintain easily accessible hand-washing facilities, failing to avoid the accumulation of food waste, dirt, and grease, failing to maintain equipment to a clean standard, and failing to ensure equipment was in a good state of repair.
Before it could reopen, the City’s environmental health officers inspected the store again before issuing a certificate that allowed it to reopen.
Mr Hall said the City took food safety and the safety of the community seriously.
“Nando’s recent conviction of 10 breaches of the Food Act is a demonstration of this commitment,” he said.
The fine is believed to be the highest recorded under the Food Act since 2019, when Metro Indian restaurant in Subiaco was fined $215,000.