A Central Coast McDonald's restaurant with evidence of rats in the food handling area is one of six outlets to be named and shamed this week on the State Government's new registry of restaurants fined for poor hygiene standards.
The online registry, which was set up on July 1, now has a total of 46 offences listed on it, including five against three multinational fast-food providers and one against a major hotel chain.
As well as naming and shaming individual restaurants, the website, which has received more than 25,000 hits since it started, provides a glimpse of which councils are most active in serving penalty notices against offenders.
Penrith City Council has issued 13 notices, Fairfield Council seven, City of Sydney six and Wyong, Warringah and North Sydney councils three each.
A McDonald's on St Johns Road, Jilliby, in the Wyong local government area, was the most high profile offender to be listed this week. It was served with a $660 fine after evidence of pests was found.
The Macau Chinese Restaurant at Moore Street, St Clair, in the Penrith area, was fined $330 after evidence of a mouse was found in the kitchen.
The Bakehouse Gourmet on George Street in the Sydney CBD was issued with a $660 fine for failing to maintain clean food premises and having food and grease on the floors below surfaces and equipment.
Also fined in the CBD was Bijou China, on Sussex Street, Haymarket, for not keeping food under temperature control.
Multinational fast-food outlets previously added to the register include a McDonald's at Tumbi Umbi, in the Wyong council area, which was added for failing to maintain fixtures and fittings in good repair.
A KFC outlet in Lakemba was fined for two offences - not having potentially hazardous food temperature-controlled and not maintaining its premises in a clean state.
A Subway at Lakehaven, also in the Wyong area, was fined for failing to maintain its premises in a clean condition.
The Rydges Hotel in McLaren Street, North Sydney, was added to the register earlier this month for having an unclean meat slicer.
Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said an average of 15 offences were being added to the register each week.
"While improving consumer information, the new website also provides a powerful incentive for the food industry to boost its performance," he said.
Jano Gibson is the Herald's Urban Affairs Reporter