Indian restaurant faces penalty for health offences

Brisbane, May 17 (UNI) A Brisbane restaurateur of Indian origin faces heavy fines for health offences following alleged discovery of a live cockroach in the rice stock and a wok that had not been cleaned for more than a week.

The Proprietor of 'Tastes of India' restaurant, Vegindra Nath, today pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to breaching the food act.

Environment Health Officer Paul Maxwell told the court that he had inspected the restaurant on Christmas 2004 and found a number of unhealthy practices that could lead to diners being infected.

Mr Maxwell said he found a live cockroach in the rice in the dry goods storeroom and caught one of the Chefs hanging his shoes up by the laces, above where the food was being cooked.

''Bacteria from beneath his shoes could have easily contaminated the food,'' he told the court.

He said the restaurant's ''filthy'' wok had some used oil in it, which had been there for at least a week.

''Any food cooked in there could have been contaminated if the heat didn't properly reach some of the food,'' Mr Maxwell said.

He further added that he also found uncovered 'samosas' in the cool room, resting near the dirty vent of a fan, and said food was routinely stored in plastic bags.

However, Mr Nath contented that there was no actual evidence of infection in the cool room and he had carried out pest control measures.

''You only saw one cockroach on the premises so isn't it then possible that a pest program was still in place?,'' Mr Nath submitted.

The hearing is set for three days and if the magistrate finds the restauranteur guilty of the breaches, he may be heavily penalised.

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