An Auckland councillor is calling for better practices from food operators after 43 restaurants were found with cockroaches, pests and filthy kitchens.

In Auckland Council's latest list of D grade food outlets, from last September to January this year, 41 shops received a D grade while two were forced to close temporarily after being issued E grades.

Breaches included poor cleaning and food safety preparation, hygiene and storage, deficient temperature controls, poor maintenance of equipment and facilities, and pests.

According to the council, a food grade certificate gives customers assurance that food they buy is safe and suitable to eat, and that the outlet meets quality and hygiene requirements under the Food Act.

An A, B or C grade means an outlet provides a level of confidence that the food it sells is safe.

D and E grades require enforcement by food inspectors, meaning a wide range of issues need to be rectified.

E ratings are given for critical risks, such as an out-of-control pest infestation or an absolutely filthy kitchen.

Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council

Central Auckland recorded the most D grade restaurants in the region with 13 shops identified with breaches, while south Auckland had 12.

Seven food shops in East Auckland were marked D grades, with five in the west, and four in the north.

Glen Innes Bakery and Cafe, Vanilla Plant Based Kitchen in Howick, Ak's Bakery in Mt Wellington, Dedwood Deli in Ponsonby, Manna Kitchen Onehunga, The Meat Hut in Massey, Gangnam Style Korean BBQ in Takapuna, Glen Eden Takeaways, 932 Mt Albert BBQ Noodle House, Mt Albert BBQ Noodle House and Hot and Spicy Pot East Tamaki all had pests.

Of the 41 shops that were issued with a D grade, 35 were reissued with A grades after rectifying breaches.

Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council

E grades were issued to United Coffee Nation on Victoria St West in Auckland Central, and Songket Malaysian Cafe at Kilham Ave, Northcote.

Both food outlets have been issued a D grade since, and allowed to operate.

South Auckland councillor Alf Filipaina said customers deserved better, and eating at places that were clean was the bare minimum.

"The good thing about these inspections is that it's catching them out and taking them to task for not complying," Filipaina said.

"Once cockroaches or pests are identified, they're shut down and told to fumigate and prove that they can reopen again."

Manukau Ward councillor Alf Filipaina. Photo: RNZ / Mata

He said it was a shame that some owners had let their shops go.

"This is where people go to buy their food, and eat. The ones that are being shut down for cockroaches and pests, those are the ones that need to be highlighted.

"It's not just about the food, it's about cleanliness of the premises they walk into, customers expect that and its [the] shop owners' responsibility to make sure the cooking area is clean and around their shops too."

Food safety breaches don't incur fines, but the council recovers costs with reinspection revisits to monitor or confirm compliance.

The average compliance cost for an E grade reinspection was $1400, while it was up to $771 for a D grade.

List of D and E grade outlets from September 2023 - Jan 2024

• Glen Innes Bakery and Cafe
• Howick Village Cafe
• Barilla Dumpling, Milford
• Chowfoo Restaurant, Albany
• Bakar Malaysian Cuisine, Panmure
• Huanoa Takeaways, Papatoetoe
• Moore St Bake House, Howick
• Happy Days Restaurant, Manukau
• Love Punjab Restaurant and Bar, Manurewa
• Vanilla Plant Based Kitchen, Howick
• Yummy Dumpling House, Queen St
• Razeens Fastfoods and Takeaway, Māngere
• Bread N Butter Home Cookery, Onehunga
• Esquires Manukau
• Korean Foods, Papatoetoe
• Polynesian Takeaway, Avondale
• Bamboo Gardens Takeaway, New Lynn
• Golden Rooster Chinese Resturant, Rosedale
• Burrito House, Birkenhead
• Top World Bakery & Cafe, Ōtāhuhu
• Idly Sambar, Kingsland
• Daaku Kebab & Cafe, Manurewa
• Panda Noodle Express, Albany
• Happy Cafe, Royal Oak
• Ak's Bakery, Mt Wellington
• Dedwood Deli, Ponsonby
• Daaku Kebab St George Street, Papatoetoe
• Mount Eden Village Kebab
• Al's Roast & Qiaos Chinese Takeaway, Snells Beach
• Bombay Chinese Indian Restaurant, Queen St
• Manna Kitchen Onehunga
• Bawarchi Indian Food Takeaway, Sandringham
• Beekeepers Wife, Riverhead
• The Meat Hut, Massey
• Chicking Takanini
• Gangnam Style Korean BBQ Restaurant, Takapuna
• United Coffee Nation, Victoria St West
• Glen Eden Takeaways
• 932 Mt Albert BBQ Noodle House
• Songket Malaysian Cafe
• Mt Albert BBQ Noodle House
• New Save Supermarket, Newmarket
• Hot and Spicy Pot, East Tāmaki

To find the most recent food grades, visit the Auckland Council website.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.