Several Simcoe County facilities were forced to close briefly earlier this month after routine inspections by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit found they were failing to ensure the premises were operated and maintained free from conditions that may be an immediate health hazard.
An Aug. 9 inspection at Teriyaki Experience, located on Bayfield Street in Barrie’s north end, determined the restaurant was failing to keep frozen food in a frozen state, failing to maintain the premise free from conditions that may be a health hazard, adversely affect the sanitary operation of the premise, or adversely affect the wholesomeness of the food and failing to maintain potentially hazardous foods at internal temperature of 4 Celsius or lower.
As a result of that inspection, a health hazard order was served and the premises was closed.
A follow-up inspection on Aug. 12 found no infractions; therefore the health hazard order was rescinded and the restaurant was allowed to reopen.
Elsewhere in Barrie, an Aug. 16 inspection of Tim Hortons at 657 Cundles Rd. E. resulted in a health hazard order and an order to close after it was determined it was failing to ensure premises is operated and maintained free from conditions that may be an immediate health hazard.
A follow-up inspection the next day determined there were no violations. The order was rescinded and the restaurant was allowed to reopen.
Fern Resort, located in Ramara, was forced to close its outdoor spa and whirlpool after an Aug. 1 inspection determined several infractions, including:
- Failure to ensure total bromine was maintained between 5 ppm to 10 ppm
- Failure to keep daily record of estimated number of bathers
- Failure to ensure public spa was kept clean
- Failure to ensure public spa was free from slipperiness
- Failure to ensure public spa was disinfected
- Failure to operate and maintain premises free from conditions that may be an immediate health hazard
- A health hazard order was served
That same inspection also prompted the immediate closure of the resort’s wading pool, after it was determined there was a “failure to ensure appropriate cyanuric acid concentration, as well as a failure to operate and maintain the premises free from conditions that may be an immediate health hazard."
A follow-up inspection on Aug. 2, for both the spa and the wading pool, found all violations had been addressed. The health hazard order was rescinded.
A routine inspection on Aug. 7 of the outdoor pool at Collingwood’s Cranberry Surf Yacht Club found the facility failed to “ensure premises is operated and maintained free from conditions that may be an immediate health hazard.” The online report from the health unit noted a failure to ensure the emergency phone was operational.
The pool was ordered to close immediately and a health hazard order was served.
Education was provided at the time of the inspection, according to the health unit. The order was later rescinded and the premises reopened.
Maple Canadian Pub, located in Port Severn, was issued an order to close after a routine inspection on Aug. 9 cited numerous “critical” and “non-critical” infractions, ranging from the failure of maintaining the premise free from conditions that may be a health hazard, adversely affect the sanitary operation of the premise or adversely affect the wholesomeness of the food.
Also noted in the health unit's online report was the failure to maintain handwashing stations with adequate supplies; failure to provide adequate number of handwashing stations; failure to provide adequate refrigeration space for food storage; failure to maintain equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles of sound and tight construction; failure to maintain the premises in a clean and sanitary manner; failure to use or provide test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer; failure to ensure utensils are sanitized mechanically as prescribed in the regulation; failure to clean and sanitize multi-service articles after each use and as often as necessary; failure to equip sanitary facility with a supply of soap and detergent; and failure to keep sanitary facility clean and in good repair.
The report also noted a failure to practise safe food handling to ensure food is safe to eat, failure to maintain an internal temperature of potentially hazardous food maintained at 4 C or lower, and failure to maintain refrigeration and hot-holding equipment.
As a result of the health hazard order, equipment/product was seized and destroyed. Education was also provided and training was recommended.
A follow-up inspection on Aug. 12 determined that all but one of the issues had been addressed and further education was provided. The health hazard order was rescinded and the restaurant was allowed to reopen.
Scopa Pizza, located in Bala, was ordered to close following an Aug. 12 inspection that found the Muskoka restaurant was not in compliance with several health and safety criteria. These included not maintaining the food premises with clean floors and/or in good repair; failing to maintain handwashing stations with adequate supplies; failing to to maintain equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair and or safe condition; failing to protect against entry, harbouring and breeding of pests; failing to ensure cloths and towels used for food service, cleaning, drying or polishing utensils or cleaning food contact surfaces are clean and good repair; failing to ensure racks, shelves or pallets are clean and designed to protect against contamination; and failure to ensure the presence of food handler or supervisor during all hours of operation.
Training was recommended by the inspector and the restaurant was later reopened.
For more information on health unit inspections, click here.
