A big enough cockroach problem can close a food business, but less than that and it can stay open while the cockroaches are dealt with.

Auckland food service consultant Mark Collins says it's outrageous that businesses with a food hygiene D rating are not closed until they are up to scratch.

Auckland Council has about 20 D-rated food businesses published on its website - they can continue selling food while concerns are fixed. Another five places graded E have been closed until they meet standards.

Collins said councils were too soft on businesses that don't meet food safety requirements.

MARK COLLINS Mark Collins says councils are too soft on food businesses that have food safety problems.

"It's within everyone's grasp to get an A. It's not like getting in the top 25 restaurant list, which is really subjective. Food safety is a bloody pre-requisite for selling food and you should be able to get an A."

READ MORE:

* New food safety rules hit hospital sales

* No worries about food served on wooden boards

* What niggles us most when dining out

"It's just good business practice to be able to guarantee that the food you serve is safe. It shouldn't be like taking a lottery ticket as to whether it is safe or not."

MARIKA HILL/STUFF Julie Ann Dairy, Avondale, is among the D-rated food businesses in Auckland.

Collins said he had been to some places that "quite frankly looked very dodgy to me and they had a B".

"I'm pretty black and white around food safety. I think it's one thing we can be pretty clear on and we would be negligent in not shutting these places down. A D is really a soft answer and they are not up to scratch."

But Auckland Council maintains the D-rated businesses are OK to continue selling food.

JODI YEATS/STUFF O'Sushi in Takapuna which has a D rating for food safety.

In a statement, Auckland Council environmental health acting manager Kalam Azad said he was confident that businesses with D grades did not pose a critical risk to food safety. D or E grade businesses could only trade when the council was confident they provided safe food.

"As a result, businesses with D grades are allowed to continue trading and follow-up inspections are done in a timely manner to ensure that the non-compliance issues have been addressed."

Azad said the grade reflected the standard of food safety found in the business at the time of the inspection.

CALLUM MCGILLIVRAY/STUFF The Waitakere Superette in West Auckland has a D rating.

"Food grades let customers make informed decisions about the food safety of the places they ate at "and they can decide what grade is suitable for their needs".

In an earlier statement, Auckland's environmental health manager Mervyn Chetty said an example of an E-grade problem was an extensive cockroach infestation.

"In cases like this, the operator must engage a professional pest control operator to eliminate the cockroaches. We will subsequently re-inspect the business and if the treatment is found to be satisfactory, the business will reopen."

Food safety information varies widely across the country.

Auckland doesn't give out C grades because it believes operators should be either above or below the line. But other councils do.

Some councils, such as Christchurch and Hamilton, don't publish gradings, so while food businesses are monitored, the public would have no idea if they are eating at an A Grade or D grade outlet.

Another complication is established food businesses are in the middle of transitioning from being covered by old food safety regulations to being covered by the Food Act 2014. It takes a different approach to food safety with more emphasis on processes. This continues to the end of February next year.

It's possible a national food business grading system could be introduced to tidy up the inconsistencies between local authorities once all businesses have moved under the Food Act 2014, says Ministry of Primary Industries director Peter Thomson.

The MPI would need to discuss the value of introducing national grading with businesses, consumers and councils. But the priority for now was the transition process.



AUCKLAND COUNCIL 'D' RATINGS, with reason

Cheer Top Trading Limited, Fremlin Pl, Avondale - Cleaning, cooking processes, food storage, hygiene facilities

Julie Ann Dairy, 2 Avondale Rd, Avondale - Cleaning, cooking processes, food storage, hygiene facilities

Waitakere Superette, Township Rd, Waitakere - Pest control, cleaning, food storage

Pecks Bakery, Glen Eden - Cleaning, hygiene facilities, food storage, surfaces and equipment

Golden Key Takeaways, 546 Te Atatu Rd, Te Atatu Peninsula - Pest control, cleaning, food storage, surfaces and equipment

Chuan Mai, 21 Pearn Pl, Northcote - Cooking processes, cleaning, food preparation processes

Sunnynook Fastfood, Sunnynook Rd, Sunnynook - Cooking processes, cleaning, food preparation processes

Wongs Kitchen, 23/44 William Pickering Dr, Rosedale - Cooking processes, cleaning, food preparation processes

Smart Kitchen, 3 Miro Pl, Albany - Food storage, cleaning, food preparation processes

O' Sushi, 5/56 Hurstmere Rd, Takapuna - Cooking processes, cleaning, food preparation processes

Great Thai, Royal Oak - Conduct and maintenance, cleaning and sanitisation, process control

Traditional Chinese Hot Pot, Dominion Rd, Mt Roskill - Conduct and maintenance, cleaning and sanitisation, process control

QMT Restaurant, 500 Ti Rakau Dr, Pakuranga - Cleaning, hygiene facilities, food storage

Smile Dessert Restaurant, 90 Whitford Rd, Sommerville - Cleaning, hygiene facilities, food storage

Bah Shabu Shabu, 5/15 Torrens Rd, East Tamaki - Cleaning, temperature control, food storage

Bikanervala Express, 726 Great South Rd, Manukau - Cleaning, hygiene facilities, food storage, surfaces and equipment

Shamiana Cuisine of India, 5 Putney Way, Manukau - Cleaning, hygiene facilities, food storage, surfaces and equipment

Shum Fruit Barn, Dawson Rd, Otara - Cooking processes, food storage, cleaning

Sharland Ave Bakery, 41 Sharland Ave, Manurewa - Cleaning, food storage

Dae Jang Guem Korean BBQ Restaurant, 22 Torrens Rd, East Tamaki - Cooking processes, food storage, cleaning, food preparation processes

AUCKLAND COUNCIL 'E' RATINGS, with reason

Kiwi Bagels, Brick St, Henderson - Cleaning, hygiene facilities, food storage

Curry Leaf Indian Restaurant and Takeaways, 12 Commercial Rd, Helensville - Pest control, cleaning, food storage

Spice Land, 5-11 Kent St, Newmarket - Conduct and maintenance, cleaning and sanitisation, process control

Texas Chicken, 5 Putney Way, Manukau - Pest control

Bikanervala Express, 726 Great South Rd, Manukau - Pest control, cleaning, food storage

Source: Auckland Council