A Perth business that claims to run “clandestine and illicit” barbecues has been slapped with almost $30,000 in fines for breaching food regulations.

Big Don’s Smoked Meats was hit with the fine after the Town of Victoria Park received a smoke complaint from owner Donovan MacDonald’s St James property in August 2018.

The business was hosting one of its ‘underground barbecue’ events in the backyard of Mr MacDonald’s house.

Victoria Park chief executive Anthony Vuleta said the Town’s environmental health officers discovered Mr MacDonald was advertising cooked meats for sale and catering services — but had not registered his business properly.

The officers also discovered that those preparing the food in Mr MacDonald’s backyard did not have access to appropriate hand washing facilities.

Under the Food Act 2008 (WA), food businesses are not allowed to host events unless they are registered and have approval from the local council.

“The cooking and selling of high risk food products such as meats in a residential premises is not something the Town of Victoria Park would approve,” Mr Vuleta said.

“The Department of Health recommends only low risk activities be permitted in residential premises.”

Camera Icon A post from Big Don’s Smoked Meats’ Facebook page. Credit: Facebook

A representative of Big Don’s Smoked Meats told The West Australian via Facebook that the conviction stemmed from a “single backyard party” that the Town of Victoria Park deemed to be a business.

The representative described the council’s actions as “ridiculous and very heavy handed” but declined to comment further or be interviewed on the matter.

Mr Vuleta said the Town of Victoria Park took food safety very seriously, and that “several attempts to contact Mr MacDonald before taking action were ignored”.

“He is still advertising his services while remaining unregistered,” he said

“The Town has been working with other local governments in relation to Mr MacDonald trading as an unregistered food business.”

A post on Big Don’s Smoked Meats’ Facebook page says the business is investigating a possible warehouse venue in 2019.

“One things (sic) for certain, we will return to our pop up Underground roots: clandestine and illicit BBQ. While appeasing the council bean counters...”

Mr MacDonald has not returned calls for comment.