A popular Indian restaurant in Baldivis, a semi-rural residential town 46 kilometres south of Perth in Western Australia, has been hit with a $40,000 fine — the biggest food business penalty issued so far in 2025 — after repeated failures to meet hygiene standards.
It is reported by 7NEWS that the Swadesh Indian Restaurant, praised online for its “delicious flavours” and high-quality food and which boasts a 4.5-star rating on Google, was also ordered to pay $24,000 in costs following a City of Rockingham prosecution.
Swadesh Indian Restaurant, which has been operating since 2018, was found by health inspectors to have ongoing cleanliness and hygiene issues dating back to 2022.
It is reported that in 2022, inspectors flagged serious concerns, including food stored in a way that could cause contamination, lack of proper handwashing facilities, and an accumulation of food waste, grease and dirt.
It is also reported that a follow-up inspection in 2023 revealed that the owners had failed to address the issues. The kitchen remained in poor condition, with unclean equipment and inadequate sanitation once again recorded.
It is being reported that Swadesh has now received the highest fine handed to a WA food business in 2025. It matches last year’s $40,000 fine to an Italian restaurant, also in Rockingham, where inspectors discovered cockroaches and cigarette butts in dry storage.
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