Inspections make for cleaner Durham dining

July 20, 2005
Metroland - Durham Division
01

Diners in Durham, Ontario, can, according to this editorial, take up their knives and forks in the region's restaurants with confidence the health department's inspections do work.

The evidence is, the editorial says, revealed in the latest report on food safety inspections which shows a dramatic decrease in violators in the past 18 months.

In the winter of 2004, 35 restaurants across Durham were slapped with various charges and fines.

Last summer, 20 restaurants were nabbed. This winter and spring, just seven restaurants were charged after extensive inspections at numerous eateries around Durham.

Alex Conner, manager environment health with the Region of Durham, was quoted as saying, "It's only because we're continually having to nag, that we have to write these tickets."

The editorial says that the twice-yearly inspections certainly seem to be having the intended effect.

The health department makes the results of the inspections public and the resulting public scrutiny can hardly be a desirable outcome for any business that must live and die by the quality and safety of its food.