MARIBYRNONG Council says there is no problem with food safety in the municipality despite multiple food businesses being convicted for noncompliance in the past three months.

Footscray eatery Africa Town Cafe and Restaurant joined Pandu’s restaurant, Acqua E Vino and Big Shine Hand Carwash as the fourth food business since November to cop a fine for dodgy food practices.

The popular African restaurant was fined $5000 by the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court for failing to have a temperature measuring device that is readily accessible.

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Africa Town’s penalty was the most severe of the four businesses.

The other businesses were fined between $1555 and $3000 for noncompliance issues, including dirty fixtures and fittings, lack of close access to handwashing facilities and failing to provide details of food sold.

Melbourne University agriculture and food Associate Professor Said Ajlouni said Africa Town’s penalty highlighted the seriousness of the breach.

“Monitoring temperature is essential to ensuring food is safe to sell and consume,” Prof Ajlouni said.

“It’s better to play it safe than allow a minor issue to turn into a major issue whereby potentially contaminated food sold can cause an outbreak of food poisoning, which in some cases can cause death.”

Planning services director Nigel Higgins said the council’s stringent inspections helped keep the public safe.

“We take enforcement of noncompliance seriously and believe that no food business should put members of the public at risk of food poisoning,” he said.

“Over 1200 food premises and temporary food premises are inspected each year, and of these, only four businesses were prosecuted for serious breaches.”

Africa Town owner Gezahagn Yedete said he disputed the court’s decision and would consider an appeal.

“I’ve never had a complaint in 16 years,” Mr Yedete said.

“I follow the food safety guidelines.”

paul.shapiro@news.com.au

@paulshapiro1117