On the coveted Værnedamsvej in Copenhagen, the restaurant Italo Thai, which combines Thai and Italian cuisine, has faced challenges since its opening in February 2023. The restaurant has quickly received two ‘smiley’ warnings from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, indicating serious deficiencies in their hygiene standards. According to the reports from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Italo Thai has particularly struggled with handwashing facilities in their dishwashing area. During a visit in March, it was found that there was no handwashing accessible, resulting in a fine of 5000 Danish kroner and a warning smiley. Despite the criticism and the order to install a new handwashing station, this had not been rectified by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration’s next visit on April 24. Furthermore, the restaurant had not updated their visible inspection report, which still showed a report from February without the warning smiley.
Jacob Kampp Berliner, one of the owners of Italo Thai, has acknowledged the problem and assured that a new handwashing station would be installed the day after the latest inspection. He told Ekstra Bladet that the restaurant already has four other handwashing stations and that the new installation would ensure compliance with all rules going forward. This situation highlights the importance of following the hygienic guidelines set by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, especially at a time when consumer awareness of food safety is high. Italo Thai is now faced with the task of restoring trust with their customers through strict adherence to hygiene standards and transparency in their operations.