DineSafe program coming to Strathroy-Caradoc

By Nancy Powers, The Age Dispatch
February 9, 2011

Starting on Canada Day, Strathroy-Caradoc eateries will be required to post health unit compliance signs in their establishments.

At their Monday, Feb. 7 council meeting, the municipality passed a bylaw that will allow the Middlesex-London Health Unit to introduce their DineSafe program locally.

Representatives from the health unit, including medical officer of health, Dr. Graham Pollett, outlined the program during a committee-of-the-whole meeting on Monday, Jan. 31.

The two main elements of the program are:

• to establish a colour-coded food premises inspection summary posting system as of July 1 and;

• to require at least one certified food handler to be on duty when food premises are in operation as of Jan. 1, 2012.

The bylaw applies to food premises in accordance with the Ontario Food Premises regulation and includes: restaurants, food stores, cafeterias and bakeries/bake shops.

There are approximately 80 establishments in Strathroy-Caradoc. They are categories as high, moderate and low risk.

According to health unit officials, there are 15 high-risk restaurants, 26 moderate risk, and 40 low risk.

The DineSafe website at: www.dinesafemiddlesexlondon.com has had 3,000 hits since late December.

Residents wishing to investigate which food establishments have received infractions under the inspection system can follow the links to a list of local eateries.

One of three signs will be posted at every eatery -- green for pass, yellow for conditional pass, and a red for closed.

According to health unit officials, the inspections are no different that what currently happens.

"If a restaurant is following the rules, there is no reason for them not to receive a green pass sign after their inspection," said Dr. Pollett. "There won't be any surprises."

The rainbow DineSafe signs will be installed in the weeks leading up to July 1.

Dr. Pollett also reiterated that the health unit wants to work with food premises.

"We don't want to cause any undo hardship," said Pollett, who added, however, there is no appeal process after the inspection is completed.

"I trust we have responsible inspectors who are professional enough not get personal," said Pollett.

He went on to explain that a scoring system within the database provides a consistent and objective approach to inspections.

The second half of the bylaw addresses the health unit's request regarding certified food handlers. Each operator must ensure that there is at least one certified food handler working at all times. They must is responsible for supervising the preparation, processing, packaging, service and storage of food.

The cost of the course is $60 and the certificate is valid for five years. The home study online course costs $30. The health unit does accept other accredited programs.