Stonnington council issued orders against 40 restaurants and cafes in 2011 for food safety breaches, ranging from pest control to cleanliness and food handling practices. In 2010 a similar number of inspections by environmental health officers found just 20 breaches.

Stonnington council chief executive Warren Roberts said the council could not explain the dramatic increase in breaches last year.

The latest figures follow an incident at the Mission Cafe on Chapel Street involving a customer who claims to have found a cockroach in a croissant bought there.

The customer, who did not wish to be named, took photos of the insect imbedded in the croissant

Mission Cafe hospitality operations manager Chris Levy said the cafe bought its croissants from a commercial bakery and had not experienced any previous problems. However, he said the cafe was taking the claim extremely seriously and had immediately cancelled its orders from the bakery.

"It's something that I don't brush under the carpet," he said.

He refused to reveal the identity of the bakery, but said it had been an approved supplier.

The cafe is run by the Prahran Mission to raise money for its work with the disadvantaged.

Mr Roberts said council officers inspected every registered food premises annually and issues orders to restaurants and cafes which fail to comply with the Australian Government Food Standards Code. Any commercial kitchen operator issued with an order was expected to take action to improve food safety.

Last year 38 of the 40 offenders complied with the orders. The two which did not comply were prosecuted in the Magistrate's Court. Another restaurant was ordered to close. The council would not name the offending premises for privacy reasons.

Mr Roberts said routine food safety inspections were unannounced and council officers and additional inspections also occurred when council received complaints about a premises or food quality.

He said the council would investigate the Mission Cafe following the cockroach incident.

Stonnington will launch a FoodSafe program next month to recognise some of the 1300 food service providers who comply with health standards. Recognised premises will be given a certificate and a sticker to display in their window.