93 restaurants inspected fail hygiene checks

All 93 restaurants inspected in a week-long joint surveillance operation across Nausori-Nasinu and Lami were issued violation notices, exposing widespread breaches of food safety standards.

The inspections, conducted by the Consumer Council of Fiji alongside Health Inspectors from the Nausori, Nasinu and Lami Town Councils, uncovered what officials described as “appalling and hazardous” kitchen conditions.

According to the findings, not a single one of the 93 restaurants surveyed was operating without violations.

Inspectors found serious cleanliness issues, including greasy equipment, dirty floors and insanitary food preparation and storage areas. Pest infestations were also common, with flies, cockroaches, rats and even cats present around food in some premises.

Food safety risks identified included uncovered food, cross-contamination, rotten produce, improper thawing practices and food warmers not in use. Several establishments lacked basic facilities such as hot water, proper ventilation, clean personal protective equipment (PPE), and valid health or business licences.

Consumer Council chief executive Seema Shandil said the findings highlighted an urgent need to strengthen enforcement and penalties.

“What we have uncovered in these kitchens, it is a blatant disregard for hygiene standards, and the people who pay to eat there. When a kitchen becomes a laundry room, or black, carcinogenic oil is served as ingredients, the business has failed its most basic moral and legal obligation," she said.

“The current fines are clearly not a deterrent. We are seeing a pattern where traders treat health violations as a minor 'cost of doing business.' This must end. We are calling for the urgent introduction of heavy spot fines and a 'name and shame' policy by municipal Councils and the Ministry of Health. If a restaurant cannot maintain a clean kitchen, they have no right to be in business. We will continue to work with health inspectors, since they have the authority to issue fines and abatement notices, to ensure that these kitchens are either cleaned up or closed down permanently,” added Shandil.

She also urged consumers to take a stand against unhygienic establishments.

“We also call on consumers to completely boycott unhygienic restaurants. If you see that a restaurant does not maintain cleanliness, and their kitchens are filthy, refuse to eat there, and encourage your friends and family to do the same.”

The Council said inspections would continue in other areas.