ONTARIO: Diners bemoan shuttered Ruby Chinese Restaurant

11.oct.09
thestar.com

A popular Chinese restaurant that failed two health inspections
following a salmonella outbreak will remain closed for the weekend -
much to the dismay of local diners.
John He and Peter Wong waited on the manicured lawn of Ruby Chinese
Restaurant Saturday afternoon for a friend to join them for lunch. The
men knew about the salmonella, but thought the restaurant would be open.
"Many customers are crying that it's closed down," He said.
"I'm healthy," he said, adding he dines at Ruby about three times a
week.
He may be healthy, but the 22 people who had nausea, vomiting and
diarrhea, common with Salmonellosis, after eating there, were not.
Toronto Public Health is investigating another 15 probable cases and a
death that may be linked to the outbreak, which they pegged as occurring
from Sept. 12 to Sept. 20. Chicken or duck is considered to be the
likely cause.
The Scarborough restaurant near Finch Ave. E. and McCowan Rd. was closed
following a lunchtime inspection Wednesday that revealed certain foods
weren't protected from contamination, utensils and cooking surfaces
weren't adequately cleaned, and raw meat wasn't at the right
temperature. Officials said there was also a cockroach infestation and a
dirty floor. On Friday, the restaurant failed a second inspection.
Toronto Public Health is waiting for the restaurant to signal it's ready
for round three. "There is no point in re-inspecting until they're fully
ready so we can go in and give them the pass they so desperately want,"
Rishma Govani said. "It likely won't be this weekend."