Twenty eateries hit with fines; Single business racked up 13 convictions

August 29, 2004
Metroland Papers
Carly Foster, Staff Writer

DURHAM-- The Durham, Ontario, health department has, according to this
story, charged 20 restaurants with food safety violations ranging from
washing raw chicken beside lettuce to smoking while cooking.

China Garden at 329 Simcoe St. S. in Oshawa topped the list with the most
convictions, at 13. The restaurant, which is no longer in business, was
fined $4,700 for violations including failing to keep a poisonous substance
separate from food and failing to keep premises clean to prevent food
contamination and adulteration.

DeVille Produce, an independent grocer at 3570 Brock St. N. in Whitby,
contested its 12 convictions in an interview Thursday.

Michael Guzzo, manager of the store, was quoted as saying, "I don't know.
For some reason they've harped on us. They haven't really given us a chance
to rectify the situation. After 22 years we've been (in business), all of a
sudden certain regulations are being enforced."

The store's violations include failing to properly clean utensils and
surfaces, and cracked equipment being used with food, for a total fine of
almost $3,000.

Alex Connor, a manager of environmental health, was cited as saying that
before laying charges, the health department visits premises at least twice
- with time in between to fix problems - before charges are laid, adding,
"(But) at the end of the day, you can't really walk out of a place and leave
a mess behind. Ninety-five per cent of the time you talk to the guy... and
he makes an effort. But there's a problem when they go back to their (old)
ways."

Mr. Guzzo said all of the problems have been fixed.