Grocery store shut after health violations; First time city has pulled a food licence
Gerrard St. shop convicted many times

July 9, 2005
The Toronto Star
B2
Huang Naili

A small Toronto grocery store, convicted three times in the past three years for selling unsafe food, has, according to this story, been ordered to close after it was caught selling uninspected meat and ungraded eggs.

Jim Chan, a food inspection manager with Toronto Public Health., was cited as saying it's the first time the city has revoked the licence of a food business, after the Toronto Licensing Tribunal made the decision Thursday to shut down Zheng Sheng Food Co. at 821 Gerrard St. E., adding, "We don't even know where they slaughtered their chickens. It could be in the basement of the house, or in the garage, or in a farm. Potentially there is a very hazardous environment because there is no water for cleaning."

Joe Luzi, south district manager of the city's municipal licensing and standards department, was cited as saying the tribunal found the business operator had endangered the public's health and safety.

Zheng Sheng was charged 10 times for food safety violations during the past two years, and was convicted in 2003 and 2004 for selling uninspected meat, ungraded eggs, failing to ensure food is not contaminated or adulterated, and failing to keep food wholesome.

Despite the convictions and fines of more than $5,000, the store continued to operate.

The store was convicted again in June and fined another $15,000 for the same violations.

The store's registered owner, Yun-bin Chen, was cited as saying yesterday she found it very difficult to run a business in Canada.

Chan was quoted as saying "The tribunal's decision sends a clear message to the city's food business operators. If any of them try or continue to sell and distribute any kind of food that may be a potential health risk to the public, we will put a stop to it."
Last year, Toronto Public Health charged 23 food premises with selling uninspected meat and 26 with selling ungraded eggs.