Thursday, June 19, 2014

Waterloo finds more restaurant infractions



The more they look, the more they find.

Restaurants and other food-handling facilities in Waterloo Region were inspected more times in 2013 than ever before – and were found to not be abiding by the rules more than ever before as well, reports food-safety communications expert Dr. Doug Powell.

Region of Waterloo Public Health conducted a total of 5,230 inspections last year, up from 5,088 the year before.

The inspectors identified 10,984 infractions, 3,162 of them deemed critical.

The most common of the critical infractions was “failure to protect food from potential contamination and adulteration.”

Chris Komorowski, the region’s manager of food safety, says he’s not surprised.

“We’ve inspected more food premises this year than we did in previous years,” he told CTV News.

“With that, you’re going to see overall more infractions.”

It’s not just restaurants that see occasional visits from health inspectors – supermarkets, bakeries, farmers’ markets and other facilities are examined as well.


“Wherever food is prepared to be sold, we’re mandated to inspect,” says Komorowski.