Cockroach infestations lead health inspectors to close Auckland eateries

Eateries infested by cockroaches or rats risk being closed down and hit with an E-grade rating. Photo / Greg Bowker

A bakery, city caterer and two Asian food outlets are among Auckland's dirtiest eateries with four of them found to be infested with pests.

This included Pepper Kitchen in the city centre where Auckland Council health inspectors found a cockroach infestation in August.

Infestations were also discovered at Catering Masters in Mangere, BBQ Noodle House in Albany and Davin Bakery and Cafe on the Te Atatū Peninsula.

Lucky Grill Seafood Restaurant in Highland Park was also hit with an E-grade rating but this was because it was found to have poor storage and cross-contamination issues.

Cleanliness and poor hygiene were found to be issues in all five outlets, while Pepper Kitchen was described as a "critical risk" because of its cleaning standards.

A sixth outlet, Surasang in the Wairau Valley, was hit with a D-grade rating for "non-compliant labelling" and "undeclared allergens".

The five E rated outlets were ordered closed until the issues had been fixed.

They were then set to be given a new grading after 90 days.

Food outlets with an E grade

Catering Masters – 2/27 The Concourse, Mangere Towncentre, Mangere

Davin Bakery & Cafe – 5/1A Gloria Ave, Te Atatū Peninsula

BBQ Noodles House – 361 Albany Highway, Albany

Lucky Grill Seafood Restaurant – 5/7 Aviemore Drive, Highland Park

Pepper Kitchen – 21-25 Elliot St, Auckland Central