Here’s further evidence that the standards of enforcement, disclosure and transparency regarding food hygiene standards in Victoria are hopelessly inadequate and out of date. In London, local government authorities close down suspect businesses and refuse to allow owners to reopen under different names. They post information on the windows of premises for the public to see. This business was the Saffron cafe (11A Sicilian Avenue, Holborn) and I saw this by coincidence. Why can’t we have this in Melbourne? We could if our inept, obsessed with secrecy, state government developed some political will and forced local governments to take their responsibilities in relation to public health seriously.


