Betta Maid, an Unanderra bakery which closed last year, has been fined for selling unsafe food and breaching hygiene standards.
Wollongong Local Court fined the company a total of $63,000 plus $20,000 in court costs.
The charges were brought against the company in response to the NSW Food Authority’s investigation into a salmonella outbreak in 10 aged care facilities on the NSW South Coast and ACT between January and March 2015.
As the Illawarra Mercury reports, two residents died and 30 fell ill with a rare strain of salmonella at the facilities of aged care provider IRT.
Betta Maid supplied meat pies, potato pies, sausage rolls and other baked goods to IRT. Some of these were contaminated with a rare strain of salmonella.
The Local Court Magistrate Beattie, agreed with the Food Authority’s submission that there was a hygiene failure and fined the company accordingly.
The Food Authority said in a statement that it was pleased with a decision
“This court result serves as a reminder to all food businesses why food safety systems are crucial, particularly those businesses serving food to the most vulnerable in our community,” said Lisa Szabo, Chief Executive Officer, NSW Food Authority.
“Food businesses are obliged to ensure their food is safe and suitable for human consumption and comply with the standards in the NSW Food Act 2003,” she said.
Charges brought against Betta Maid director, Udo Boschan, have been adjourned to May 26.