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A desi restaurant in Perth\u2019s east has been fined tens of thousands of dollars after failing to comply with a string of food safety standards.<\/p>\n
But PIND Restaurant, which serves mainly Pakastani food, says it will appeal the finding and $72,000 fine.<\/p>\n
The City of Belmont prosecuted the Belmont eatery last month over nine breaches of the Food Standards Code and the subsequent Food Act – including that it did not take practical means to prevent pests from entering the establishment and failing to store food in a way which would prevent contamination.<\/p>\n
Further charges related to failing to store food correctly and failing to store potentially hazardous food under correct temperature control.<\/p>\n
The council\u2019s inspectors made at least two visits in the space of a week last November. At the second inspection they also found kitchen equipment not maintained to a standard of cleanliness.<\/p>\n
The Department of Health convicted the restaurant operator, PAK Global Network, on April 10.<\/p>\n
A representative for the restaurant told The West Australian they were appealing the fines but did not provide any supporting information.<\/p>\n
PIND Restaurant has 231 reviews on Google with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, and it\u2019s food has been credited for tasting like a \u201ctrip back to the streets of Lahore and Peshawar\u201d.<\/p>\n
The restaurant describes itself online as \u201cyour go-to place for authentic Halal Desi food in Perth\u201d writing that \u201cevery dish is prepared with 100 per cent halal ingredients, making us a trusted choice for families, friends, and the desi community\u201d.<\/p>\n
The biggest fine for a restaurant food safety breach to date was in 2019 when Metro Indian Restaurant in Subiaco was fined $215,000 plus almost $2000 in costs, for eight breaches described in court as some of the worst ever seen<\/p>\n
In 2024, Nandos Willetton was fined a significant $160,000 for hygiene issues, including a rat infestation.<\/p>\n