Figures published by the NSW Food Authority show Bathurst’s two full-time food inspectors carried out more inspections than any other Central West council area, paying each high and medium risk food business an average of three visits in the 12-month period.

But the figures also show that Bathurst’s food businesses are overwhelmingly complying with food legislation, with inspectors following up their 101 warning letters with just three penalty notices.

The Western Advocate understands these were the three penalty notices issued to the Hungry Jack’s outlet on Durham Street in April and May last year, relating to a failure to ensure all fittings, fixtures and equipment were cleaned to an appropriate standard, and a failure to ensure all eating and drinking utensils and food contact surfaces were properly cleaned.

Local food inspectors received seven complaints in the 12 months to June 30 last year and investigated them all. They also issued nine improvement notices.

But the standout figures in the Food Authority’s report related to the level of activity of our local inspectors.

The figures show Bathurst is home to 284 food businesses that were rated high risk and 34 medium risk food businesses (a total of 318) and that local food inspectors carried out 876 inspections in 2010-11.

By comparison, Orange inspectors carried out just 301 inspections of the 131 high risk and 53 medium risk food businesses, and Dubbo inspectors did 279 inspections at 187 high risk and 18 medium risk businesses.

The only council areas to conduct more food inspections than Bathurst for the 12-month period included huge Sydney councils such as Auburn (3840 inspections at a total of 789 high and medium risk businesses), City of Sydney (3838 inspections at 2931 high and medium risk businesses), Fairfield (2329 inspections at 775 high and medium risk businesses) and Blacktown (1164 inspections at 1040 high and medium risk businesses).

In releasing the annual report, NSW Food Authority CEO Alan Coutts said most councils were fulfilling their roles as food inspectors.

“[The report] also shows that many food businesses are responding to council inspections and interventions and taking the required action to ensure that food served to the public is correctly stored, handled and served,” Mr Coutts said.