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.
Region of Waterloo Public Health conducted a total of 5,230 inspections last year.
That’s more than the 5,088 they conducted in 2012, which was the previous all-time high.
Also more than the previous high-water mark was the number of infractions inspectors found – a total of 10,984, including 3,162 critical infractions.
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 the results aren’t a surprise given the uptick in total inspections.
“We’ve inspected more food premises this year than we did in previous years,” he tells 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 and other facilities are examined as well.
“Wherever food is prepared to be sold, we’re mandated to respect,” says Komorowski.
No facilities were closed down by the region in 2013 due to health violations – something that can’t be said every year – but 23 tickets were issued to nine facilities.
Ben Langill, who lives in Cambridge, tries to pay attention to health records and violations.
She says she has mixed feelings upon hearing about the 23 tickets given out in 2013.
“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but there really shouldn’t be any. You’re dealing with the public,” she says.
Health inspectors seized and disposed of 1,167 kilograms of food in 2013.
