NEW BRUNSWICK: Local legion defends food-handling practices

26.dec.11
Daily Gleaner
Heather McLaughlin


A local woman has filed a complaint about the food-safety practices at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 4 in Fredericton, but representatives from the organization say any claims of impropriety are mistaken.
Fredericton Legion president Ardith Armstrong says a commercial meat slicer that was temporarily stored in a vestibule area outside of a washroom in the Queen Street legion building was kept there to be returned to its owner and was never inside the toilet area of the washroom.
But Patricia des Champs begs to differ.
She called the Health Department and filed a complaint the day after her service club held its Christmas dinner for 70 people at the legion Dec. 12. The legion catered the dinner for the group. Des Champs said she spotted the meat slicer as she was getting ready to leave the legion that night.
"About 20 feet away there was a bathroom. The light was on. The toilet was clearly visible as was the large commercial meat slicer sitting next to the toilet," des Champs said. "It wasn't a hand-washing room, it was a public toilet."
Des Champs said she called the legion the next day to complain, but no one returned her call. So she contacted a provincial health inspector to file a complaint.
"My big concern is that when you eat out, you should be concerned about where you go because you can become ill. I am very pleased that churches and non-profits do special events to raise money. However, people should be very aware that they are not required under provincial law to be subject to Department of Health inspections. But they do have a responsibility to provide safe food."
Despite that, the provincial Health Department visited the legion Dec. 22 and found the meat slicer still located in the area outside the toilet.
"Washrooms must be kept clear of food and food-contact materials. Meat slicer stored in washroom area awaiting removal from premises. Moved at time of inspection," stated the Department of Health report posted on the government website this week.
The inspector's report said the location of the slicer was corrected while she was present.