Health inspectors shut down a Ngunnawal bakery after finding mouse faeces, dead insects, and flour and dirt in the food preparation area and on equipment, a court has heard.
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The Golden Oven bakery and its former owner came under investigation in 2010 after a customer complained to authorities about a mouldy pie.
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Tung Van Phan, 52, of Franklin, was fined $7000 in the ACT Magistrates Court yesterday for failing to comply with the territory's food regulations.
When officers inspected the bakery in June last year, they found a batch of mouldy meat pie filling sitting in the open and dirt throughout the premises.
The bakery has since been sold and Phan no longer works in the food industry.
He pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to comply with food sale standards and one charge of unsafe handling of food in the conduct of a food business.
The court heard the bakery had been the subject of several complaints before inspectors visited last year.
They found the bakery was dirty, with dead insects, old flour and mice droppings on the floor and on food contact equipment.
The sinks were used as storage space for equipment and lacked hand towels.
Photographs of the bakery that showed accumulated dirt and congealed fat and grease on the ovens were tendered in court.
Phan's lawyer said his client opened the bakery in 1998 but business began to decline three years ago, while Phan and his wife were also struck down by health problems.
The court heard the couple were forced to sell their house and move in with a relative and their ill-health meant they could not keep up cleanliness at the bakery.
Phan had pleaded guilty at an early stage in proceedings and cooperated fully with authorities.
The prosecution argued that the offences were serious and difficult to detect.
Phan had failed to maintain equipment used to prepare food and failed to keep the bakery clear of pests, the court heard.
Magistrate Grant Lalor said the economic downturn in a business was not an excuse for putting public health at risk.
He said the statement of facts and supporting photographs indicated that the bakery was in "a state that was deleterious to the health of the community".
Mr Lalor said the fact the bakery had been the subject of previous complaints showed Phan was aware of his obligations.
He recorded convictions and fined Phan $7000 plus court costs.