Manukau City names and shames health-risk food outlets

By ALAN PERROTT

More than 50 South Auckland food outlets ranging from dairies to factories have been exposed as health risks.

Manukau City Council's website lists 543 food outlets with their addresses, date of inspection and health rating from A down to the bottom ranking of E, which indicates a significant health risk, such as dirtiness or dangerous food-handling practices.

Fifty-six of the outlets, in Otara, Clevedon, Howick and Pakuranga, must now display yellow E-grade certificates for at least two months before they can apply for another inspection.

A further 31 outlets are listed with Bs, for fewer than 10 non-critical faults, and 10 got a D for more than 10 faults and at least one fault that has not been corrected since their last inspection. Manukau City does not award a C grade.

Eight other outlets have been closed for posing a serious health risk and their names will be published this month.

Manukau City environmental health team leader Ian Milnes said that initially only the names of those outlets awarded the favourable A rating were published, but public pressure last week had forced the council to begin running all results.

"There is a 'roll of shame' aspect to it, but the public want to know which shops pose a health risk and they have the right to know," he said.

Among those with an E rating is Goodman Fielder Food Coatings in East Tamaki, part of the largest food manufacturing company in Australasia, which was inspected last month. A company spokeswoman said it was "surprised and disappointed" with the grading and was seeking more details from the council.

Gerry Hogan, who heads Manukau Institute of Technology's A-graded meat retailing school, said people were entitled to know which establishments did not come up to scratch.

But he said the scale of the problem was surprising given the increasing number of prospective shop owners taking health and hygiene courses.

Mr Hogan would like to see more food inspectors conducting more regular checks to bring the number down.

Manukau City has four food inspectors who check 1100 premises twice a year for hygiene, and health and safety practices.

Inspectors are now at work in Mangere before moving on to Manurewa and Papatoetoe. Those results will also be published.

South Auckland Health public health officer Dr Greg Simmons said he supported the council's stand and hoped the concept spread.

Auckland City Council hoped to produce its own list before the end of the year, North Shore City and Whangarei District councils were looking at the Manukau initiative "with interest" and Waitakere City Council said it also would look into it.

Hamilton City Council environmental health officer Hans Buik said his council preferred a more positive approach and granted awards for excellent hygiene.

HEALTH DANGER ZONES

CLEVEDON

Log Cabin Cafe, North Rd. Ma's Takeaways, Main Rd. Omana View Superette, Maraetai School Rd.

HOWICK

123 Casino Cafe Bar, Gooch Place. Beijing Restaurant, Whitford Rd. Cheapies Chicken, Whitford-Maraetai Rd. Chinese Dumpling Restaurant, Gooch Place. Crumbs Cottage Bakery, Botany Rd. Eastern Palace Restaurant, Aviemore Drive. Golden Fortune Restaurant, Aviemore Drive. Highgate Restaurant, Gooch Place. Howick Bakehouse, Mill House Drive. Shilla Restaurant, Picton St. Shun De Chinese Restaurant, Meadowland Drive. Union Bakery & Takeaway, Union Rd.

OTARA

2 Guys Takeaways, Diorella Drive. Capital Takeaway, Bairds Rd. Cheapies Chicken, East Tamaki Rd. Daily Grind, Chapel Rd. Dawson Chinese Takeaway, Dawson Rd. Dawson Rd Fisheries, Dawson Rd. Double Dragon Takeaways, Dawson Rd. Foodfair Supermarket, East Tamaki Rd. Foodworld Supermarket, Fair Mall. Friends Restaurant, Otara Town Centre. Goodman Fielder Food Coatings, Zelanian Drive. Hollywood Bakery, East Tamaki Rd. Lyn's Bakery, Bairds Rd. Mad About Food, Harris Rd. Otara Fisheries, Bairds Rd. Otara Hot Bread, East Tamaki Rd. Othello Superette, Othello Drive. Othello Takeaway, Othello Drive. Pacific Choise Otara, Fair Mall. Polynesian Discount Seafoods, East Tamaki Rd. Semi's Cakes, Otara Town Centre. Shabri Restaurant & Bar, Amera Place. Sheralee Dairy, Bairds Rd. Shum's Fruit Barn, Dawson Rd. Sin Hing Food Company, Lorien Place. Sugarbun Lunchbar, Stonedon Drive. Supavalue Dawson, Dawson Rd. The Original Aussie Butcher, Fair Mall. Value Fresh, East Tamaki Rd. Wins Diner, Dawson Rd. Young Bakery, Bairds Rd. Youngs Lunchbar, Fair Mall.

PAKURANGA

Barracuda, The Parade. Great City Restaurant, Reeves Rd. Grenway Seafood, Ti Rakau Drive. Lucky House Restaurant, Ti Rakau Drive. Seoul Garden, Pakuranga Rd. Steamboat Delight Chinese Restaurant, Gossamer Drive. Tasty Zone Chinese Restaurant, Torrens Rd. Tofu Shop, Ti Rakau Drive.

Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/health