Melbourne's CBD (central business district) has the most restaurants in the state breaching food safety laws, according to a register of convictions that names and shames Victorian eateries.

Thirty-six individuals and businesses representing 24 restaurants have been named on the register since the Brumby government set it up on July 1 last year.

Eleven of the convictions on the register are against restaurants within Melbourne's CBD.

Asian restaurants and grocery stores appear to be the worst offenders, making up almost half of all convictions.
 But the list also contain bakeries, a cafe attached to a car wash and a venue operating at the popular Queen Victoria Market.

The offences include:
- failing to remove pests living in the premises;
- smoking near food preparation areas;
- not storing potentially hazardous food correctly;
- not providing soap and warm water for food handlers;
- having no means of drying hands to reduce the risk of contamination; and
- having kitchens with an accumulation of garbage, food waste, dirt or grease.

The worst offenders include Noodle Kingdom, whose owners were ordered to fork out $70,000 for various breaches.

The Australians popularized the ‘name and shame’ approach to restaurant inspection disclosure (the Brits use ‘scores on doors,’ those in Toronto use pretty colors and Danes use smiley faces).

Mohammed al Reyaysa, the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority’s spokesman, told The National today that restaurant operators promised to improve hygiene standards after the emirate’s food safety watchdog named 17 outlets that were temporarily closed because of violations, adding,

“When all efforts fail, we are left with no other option but to order the closure of the outlet that functions in utter disregard for public health and the law of the land. The health and safety of the consumer is the red line that should not be crossed in any circumstance.”

Of the 17 establishments that were closed this year, 15 were in Abu Dhabi city and two were in Al Gharbia.

They were allowed to reopen after the Food Control Authority was confident the violations had been corrected.

Mr al Reyaysa further noted the restaurants closed were “fraught with potential danger to the health of the consumers”, such as kitchens infested with insects, improper drainage systems and waste disposal, and mixing meat and fruits.

He also criticized restaurants that complain inspections are too rigorous.

“We have clear requirements and regulations that are based on global best practices. We are not less, and our consumers are not less, than those in Europe and America. We do not sacrifice the health of the consumer so establishments can make more money or avoid having their names mentioned in the media.”

A news station in Austin, TX has used the name-and-shame approach to expose restaurants in the area that failed health inspections in 2008. KVUE.com reports that 96 of the 6,000 restaurants inspected in the county failed health inspections in the past year. Highlights from the article below, with my favorite, Mr. Natural on Cesar Chavez, first.

[T]he restaurant that had the worst score in the Austin-Travis County area for 2008. It's a place that is supposed to be good for us… it's 100 percent vegetarian. Critical violations include grain beetles in the bulk flour bin and an accumulation of food particles or mold on numerous surfaces including the ice machine, the waffle iron, and the interior of the bakery freezer. Since that failing score Mr. Natural has passed with scores of 76 and 72…

China Buffet got a score of 55… inspectors found an unknown liquid dripping in a container plus filth on the walls, doors, fans, floors and sides of equipment. It cleaned things up and scored 90, 84, and 83 on follow up inspections...

Cancun Mexican Restaurant [received a score of] 50. The inspector watched a cook handle raw beef then fail to properly wash his hands or wear gloves before handling ready to eat tortillas. Employee prescriptions were found next to the toaster. It was checked three more times last year scoring a 71, an 82, and 79 on follow-up inspections.

In Austin restaurant inspection results are available on the City of Austin website. Consumers can search an establishment, like Mr. Natural, and view the most recent inspection score. Establishments are scored on a 100-point system, with points being deduced for violations. Less than 70 requires re-inspection.