The ACT Government is considering whether to ”name and shame” restaurants which breach hygiene standards or to introduce a more comprehensive hygiene ”star-rating” system for all food businesses.
ACT Health has refused to release the names of the restaurants which were subjected to breach hygiene orders because the information could ”unreasonably affect” the affairs of the businesses’ owners.
It was reported recently in The Canberra Times an Ainslie woman, Esther Agostino and her partner began suffering stomach cramps about 30 hours after they ate dinner in an unnamed north Canberra restaurant.
It was later discovered they had contracted salmonella and had to be cared for by the women’s mother who took time off work to care for the couple.
It was also reported that Ms Agostino was taken back to hospital by ambulance after becoming violently ill again and is now taking powerful antibiotics. She and her partner both lost several kilograms and have still not recovered their health. Tests confirmed the couple had salmonella and that that infection almost certainly occurred in the restaurant.
Ms Agostino said the public should be informed when a business breached food safety standards.
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