The Consumer Council of Fiji is calling for the urgent introduction of heavy spot fines and a “name and shame” policy for restaurants that fail to maintain clean kitchens.
This comes after all 93 restaurants surveyed were issued violation notices for various offences.
The Council uncovered what it describes as “appalling and hazardous” conditions in kitchens across the Nausori-Nasinu and Lami areas.
The inspections were conducted over the past week alongside Health Inspectors from the Nausori, Nasinu and Lami Town Councils, and revealed a blatant disregard for basic hygiene standards.
The Council says many premises had serious cleanliness issues, including greasy equipment, dirty floors and unsanitary food preparation and storage areas.
They say pest infestations were common, with flies, cockroaches, rats and even cats found around food preparation areas.
The Council further highlighted food safety risks such as uncovered food, cross-contamination, rotten produce, improper thawing practices and food warmers not being used.
CEO Seema Shandil says they will work with health inspectors to issue fines and abatement notices to ensure these kitchens are either cleaned up or permanently closed down.
Shandil says what they have uncovered in these kitchens is a blatant disregard for hygiene standards and for the people who pay to eat there.
She adds that when a kitchen becomes a laundry room, or when black, carcinogenic oil is used as an ingredient, the business has failed in its most basic moral and legal obligations.
Shandil says the current fines are clearly not a deterrent, and the Council is seeing a pattern where traders treat health violations as a minor “cost of doing business.”
