Forest Lake has emerged as an area of concern in Brisbane City Council’s latest report on food safety despite having a relatively small number of food venues.

The suburb received a disproportionate number of infringement notices in 2023-24, raising questions about food-handling practices in the area. Brisbane City Council reveals it was responsible for 100 percent of Queensland’s food safety prosecutions last year.
Council data shows that across Brisbane, 47 food businesses faced court action for serious breaches of food safety standards. These violations ranged from the presence of cockroaches and rodents to inadequate handwashing facilities. In two instances, cockroaches were discovered in the food, while rat droppings were sighted at 14 venues.
One establishment was found to have a rat’s nest on the premises, and another had a live rodent caught in a trap.

Cr Sarah Hutton, Chair of City Standards, acknowledged that while most of Brisbane’s food businesses maintain high standards, safe food handling is crucial for public health. She emphasised the importance of the hospitality sector in contributing to the vibrancy of the city’s suburbs.
Brisbane City, Fortitude Valley, Sunnybank Hills, and Upper Mount Gravatt recorded the highest prosecutions, fines, and complaints. However, Forest Lake stands out, given its low number of registered food venues compared to the high number of infringements.
Dr David Harley, a senior specialist in Public Health Medicine at Queensland Health, reminded the public that unsafe food handling and inadequate cooking can lead to bacterial infections such as salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis. He stressed the importance of properly cooking chicken to prevent campylobacter infection.
Dr Harley also noted that viruses, particularly norovirus, are a common cause of gastroenteritis, especially among young children.
Brisbane City Council offers local businesses free food safety training and resources to promote compliance with regulations and best practices. This information is available on the council’s website.
Published Date 27-Jan-2025
