An infestation of rats and rodent droppings has led to a Nando’s restaurant in Perth receiving one of the largest food safety fines seen in Western Australia in years.
The Willetton branch of the Portuguese chicken brand was fined $160,000 for 10 Food Law breaches, which were discovered during a routine inspection in September 2023.
The offenses included failure to take all possible measures to prevent the entry of pests and eradicate them, Western Australia reported.
Images taken by an inspector include a dead rat under a sink, rat droppings in a box of tomatoes and on the floor, a dirty floor, moldy surfaces and grease on a wall.
“A rodent infestation was identified at the facility, which was considered a very serious risk to public health,” said City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall.
Nando’s was ordered to immediately close the restaurant and address the food safety issues.
“The business responded by closing, rectifying cleaning, maintenance, rodent infestation and food safety issues and subsequently reopened,” Mr Hall said.
Breaches at the Willetton Nando’s store (pictured) included failing to take all possible measures to prevent the entry of pests and eradicate them.
A rat infestation has seen a Nando’s restaurant in Perth receive one of the biggest food safety fines seen in Western Australia in years. In the photo you can see a dead rat under the kitchen sink.
The Willetton branch of the Portuguese chicken brand was fined $160,000 for 10 Food Law breaches, discovered during a routine inspection in September 2023.
Hall said evidence of rodents and rat droppings were also found in food preparation and storage areas.
“The severity of the risks to food safety was such that legal action was justified in the public interest,” he said.
The Willetton establishment was also convicted of selling expired food, failing to prevent the build-up of food waste, dirt and grease, failing to prevent contamination of food, failing to maintain equipment in a clean condition, and failing to ensure that equipment was in good condition and lack of maintenance of easily accessible handwashing facilities.
The restaurant has been inspected again by officials who issued a certificate allowing it to reopen.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted both Nando’s Willetton branch and the company’s Australian head office for comment.
The local mayor said evidence of rodents and rat droppings were found in food preparation and storage areas.
The Willetton establishment was also condemned for failing to prevent the build-up of food waste, dirt and grease (pictured).
