Food Authority Makes Example of Defunct Bakery

A New South Wales bakery that closed last year has been fined for selling unsafe food and breaching hygiene standards.

Wollongong Local Court fined the business a total of $63,000, plus $20,000 in court costs.

The charges were brought against the company in response to the Food Authority’s investigation into a salmonella outbreak in 10 aged care facilities on the NSW south coast and ACT between January and March 2015.

Two residents died and 30 fell ill with a rare strain of salmonella at the facilities of aged care provider IRT.

The bakery supplied meat pies, potato pies, sausage rolls and other baked goods, some of which were contaminated with a rare strain of salmonella.

Local Court Magistrate Geraldine Beattie, agreed with the Food Authority’s submission that there was a hygiene failure and fined the company accordingly.

“This court result serves as a reminder to all food businesses why food safety systems are crucial, particularly those businesses serving food to the most vulnerable in our community,” NSW Food Authority chief executive officer Lisa Szabo said.

“Food businesses are obliged to ensure their food is safe and suitable for human consumption and comply with the standards in the NSW Food Act 2003,” she said.