Diner finds live cockroach in risotto

A Brisbane restaurant has been fined more than $25,000 after a diner found a live cockroach in her risotto.

The diner, Annette Welsford, told the Courier-Mail she was about to tip some parmesan onto her food when her daughter-in-law said: "Oh my God, it's a cockroach!"

Ms Welsford said the insect was standing up in her bowl and "waving its legs around".

The manager at the four-star DM jazz café in South Bank quickly grabbed the dish off the table and explained the cockroach may have been in someone else's salad and just flew in.

"It really ruined the day for us," Ms Welsford was quoted saying.

The incident, in April last year, shut down the restaurant for two days.

An inspection by local authorities found the kitchen was infested with cockroaches, while uncovered meat and built-up grease were also discovered.

Domanni Corporation, which runs the restaurant, was fined $24,000 after pleading guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court to one count of selling unsuitable food and 10 counts of failing to comply with requirements imposed by the local food standards code.

Owner Doina Poplacinel was fined an additional $1500.

Source: Courier-Mail 

Author: Erin Tennant