Latest news with #FoodStandardCode
7NEWS
23-06-2025
- 7NEWS
Brighton Bakery: Award-winning Scarborough bakery hit with massive fine over food health and safety breaches
A popular northern suburbs bakery once crowned for serving the best meat pie in WA has been fined $100,000 over serious food safety breaches. Scarborough's Brighton Bakery is known for baking award-winning pastries, but environmental health officers found something far less-appetising inside the popular family-run business last July. Owners Thi Thuy Hong Dinh and Van Vuong Dong, as well as the company itself, were sentenced in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday morning on 14 charges each including handling food intended for sale in a manner that rendered food unsafe, failing to comply with provisions of the Food Standard Code, and contravening a prohibition order. Over a two-month period, inspectors carried out seven inspections at Brighton Bakery, identifying a raft of unsafe food practices that included uncovered raw meat products being stored next to 'ready-to-eat salad items,' and foods being kept at temperatures well above safe levels. During one of their visits, inspectors took away samples from a selection of cheese tarts displayed on top of a glass cabinet to undergo testing, with lab results later finding high levels of a toxin-producing bacteria that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Prosecutor Tim Houweling told the court another visit uncovered unsafe storage of potentially hazardous foods like sushi, meats and dairy products, resulting in officers issuing a prohibition order to restrict the sale of pate, raw egg, mayonnaise and sushi. Despite the order, six-packs of sushi were on display when the inspectors returned to the well-known business the next day. But not for long. After they returned from talking to Dong, the inspectors noticed the sushi had been removed from the self-serve counter. They later found the packets inside a chest freezer along with other food items, several of which were uncovered. Officers also found milk five months past its use-by date, dead insects inside a piping bag, herbs stored in a basket on the floor, mouldy and unlabelled dough, foods stored in re-purposed packaging, and cartons of cracked, broken and deformed eggs. After eyeing the latter, officers told Dinh the eggs did not appear to be safe for human consumption and to refrain from using them in the preparation of any food. Despite the order, the following day when they returned, they observed a number of empty egg cartons sitting atop a bin, as well as an entire display of egg products for sale. Officers also observed 'ready-to-eat' food items atop old newspaper and cardboard boxes, a tub of open butter above a chemical storage area, and paint flaking from walls into food products. Several surfaces in the store were either covered in lumpy white paints or rusting and silicone was observed to be coming away from one wall. A fridge wasn't working and several other appliances fell below code standards, including a corroded mixing machine and a hot plate missing a knob. Mr Houweling said there had also been a noticeable accumulation of dirt, grease and food waste in the main prep area of the business including on surfaces, baking tins, basins, the outside of food containers, storage racks, door seals, fridges and cook tops. And then there was the storage of foods required to be stored below five degrees Celsius. The court was told an analysis of a selection of cheese pies and sausage rolls returned a temperature of 26.3 degrees, while rice paper rolls and sushi returned temperatures of 12.6 degrees and 11.4 degrees respectively. Dinh and Dong, who came to Australia as refugees from post-war Vietnam in 1980, were described by their lawyer as good people who had become careless and disorganised in the running of their business. The court was also told the couple in their 60s had made significant contributions to the community and were well-known and liked across the City of Stirling. They were fined $24,800 each, and their company — Thinh Vuong Pty Ltd — was fined $100,000. Brighton Bakery was recently put up for sale, after collecting accolades for more than 20 years. In 2019 the multi-award winning bakery picked up six awards at the WA Baking Industry Gala Dinner and Awards, taking out the Premier Pie Award for its beef meat pie, which also topped the beef pie category. The bakery also finished in the top three in five categories at the WA Commercial Bread and Pastry Competition in 2018. The bakery has also regularly picked up gongs at the Perth Royal Show.
Perth Now
21-06-2025
- Perth Now
‘Mouldy dough, bugs in piping bags' found at Perth bakery
A popular northern suburbs bakery once crowned for serving the best meat pie in WA has been fined $100,000 over serious food safety breaches. Scarborough's Brighton Bakery is known for baking award-winning pastries, but environmental health officers found something far less-appetising inside the popular family-run business last July. Owners Thi Thuy Hong Dinh and Van Vuong Dong, as well as the company itself, were sentenced in Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday morning on 14 charges each including handling food intended for sale in a manner that rendered food unsafe, failing to comply with provisions of the Food Standard Code, and contravening a prohibition order. Over a two-month period, inspectors carried out seven inspections at Brighton Bakery, identifying a raft of unsafe food practices that included uncovered raw meat products being stored next to 'ready-to-eat salad items,' and foods being kept at temperatures well above safe levels. During one of their visits, inspectors took away samples from a selection of cheese tarts displayed on top of a glass cabinet to undergo testing, with lab results later finding high levels of a toxin-producing bacteria that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Scarborough's Brighton Bakery is known for baking award-winning pastries. Credit: adfg Prosecutor Tim Houweling told the court another visit uncovered unsafe storage of potentially hazardous foods like sushi, meats and dairy products, resulting in officers issuing a prohibition order to restrict the sale of pate, raw egg, mayonnaise and sushi. Despite the order, six-packs of sushi were on display when the inspectors returned to the well-known business the next day. But not for long. After they returned from talking to Dong, the inspectors noticed the sushi had been removed from the self-serve counter. They later found the packets inside a chest freezer along with other food items, several of which were uncovered. Officers also found milk five months past its use-by date, dead insects inside a piping bag, herbs stored in a basket on the floor, mouldy and unlabelled dough, foods stored in re-purposed packaging, and cartons of cracked, broken and deformed eggs. After eyeing the latter, officers told Dinh the eggs did not appear to be safe for human consumption and to refrain from using them in the preparation of any food. Despite the order, the following day when they returned, they observed a number of empty egg cartons sitting atop a bin, as well as an entire display of egg products for sale. Officers also observed 'ready-to-eat' food items atop old newspaper and cardboard boxes, a tub of open butter above a chemical storage area, and paint flaking from walls into food products. Several surfaces in the store were either covered in lumpy white paints or rusting and silicone was observed to be coming away from one wall. A fridge wasn't working and several other appliances fell below code standards, including a corroded mixing machine and a hot plate missing a knob. Mr Houweling said there had also been a noticeable accumulation of dirt, grease and food waste in the main prep area of the business including on surfaces, baking tins, basins, the outside of food containers, storage racks, door seals, fridges and cook tops. And then there was the storage of foods required to be stored below five degrees Celsius. The bakery has also regularly picked up gongs at the Perth Royal Show. Credit: Brighton Bakery / Instagram / Instagram The court was told an analysis of a selection of cheese pies and sausage rolls returned a temperature of 26.3 degrees, while rice paper rolls and sushi returned temperatures of 12.6 degrees and 11.4 degrees respectively. Dinh and Dong, who came to Australia as refugees from post-war Vietnam in 1980, were described by their lawyer as good people who had become careless and disorganised in the running of their business. The court was also told the couple in their 60s had made significant contributions to the community and were well-known and liked across the City of Stirling. They were fined $24,800 each, and their company — Thinh Vuong Pty Ltd — was fined $100,000. Brighton Bakery was recently put up for sale, after collecting accolades for more than 20 years. In 2019 the multi-award winning bakery picked up six awards at the WA Baking Industry Gala Dinner and Awards, taking out the Premier Pie Award for its beef meat pie, which also topped the beef pie category. The bakery also finished in the top three in five categories at the WA Commercial Bread and Pastry Competition in 2018. The bakery has also regularly picked up gongs at the Perth Royal Show.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
What ‘sugar-free' and ‘no added sugar' labels really mean
Next time you reach for a product labelled 'sugar-free' or 'no added sugar,' don't assume they mean the same thing. While both terms suggest lower sugar content, they have distinct meanings that can impact your diet choices. Misunderstanding these labels could lead to unintended sugar consumption, especially for those managing diabetes or watching their sugar intake. To clear up the confusion, spoke to an expert about the key differences, how these labels affect health, and what consumers should watch out for when shopping. Kanikka Malhotra, consultant dietician and certified diabetes educator tells 'The terms 'sugar-free' and 'no added sugar' are regulated differently across the globe. A product labeled as 'sugar-free' generally indicates that it contains a negligible amount of sugar, often less than 0.5 grams per serving, as set by regulatory agencies. This means that no added sugars or artificial sweeteners are included, although naturally occurring sugars may still be present. 'No added sugar,' on the other hand, signifies that no sugars or sweeteners have been added during the manufacturing process. However, the product may still contain naturally occurring sugars from ingredients like fruits or dairy. For example, in the European Union, there are clear definitions for these claims, but in Australia, there aren't specific provisions for sugar-free claims in the Food Standard Code. In the U.S., the FDA enforces rules for 'no added sugar' labelling.' Sugar alcohols (polyols) and artificial sweeteners are often used in 'sugar-free' products as sugar alternatives. 'Polyols, like erythritol, provide sweetness with fewer calories and may reduce the risk of dental issues. However, frequent consumption of erythritol may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Similarly, long-term use of artificial sweeteners may not help control weight and could potentially increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. While regulatory bodies like the FDA have approved certain artificial sweeteners, concerns persist regarding their potential metabolic effects and overall impact on health,' explains Malhotra. Malhotra suggests, 'Consumers can identify hidden sugars in 'no added sugar' products by carefully examining the Nutrition Facts panel. While the label indicates that no additional sugars were added during processing, it's essential to check the 'Total Sugars' section to account for naturally occurring sugars. Ingredients like fruit juice concentrates, cane juice, corn syrup, and other unrecognised sugars can contribute to the overall sugar content.' Awareness of these hidden sources enables individuals to make informed dietary choices, especially for those managing conditions like diabetes. Choosing unsweetened alternatives and prioritising whole, unprocessed foods can further help reduce overall sugar intake and promote better health.
