cne food vendor maple lodge farms shut down because of 'health hazards'

while the canadian national exhibition’s secret menu , available from select vendors by request, has fair-goers excited about next-level dishes like the skoreo cheesecake chimney cone, toronto health inspectors have shut down two of the exhibition’s food outlets over health risks.

zabiha halal, famous for its chicken fries poutine and halal chicken wieners, and  maple lodge farms were both told to close on monday for three identical infractions each, ctv news reports . one infraction was designated “crucial,” the most serious of those issued under the city’s  dinesafe inspection system , for maintaining their spaces in a manner that permitted a “health hazard.”

according to california’s lompoc valley medical center it’s important to be aware that access to the typical tools for safe food handling can sometimes be reduced at fairs and festivals: “the usual safety controls in a kitchen, such as hand-washing facilities, refrigeration, thermometers to check food temperatures and workers trained in food safety, may not be available when cooking and dining at fairs and festivals.”

how to avoid food poisoning at fairs

some clues that a food vendor is following food safety rules include things like a workspace that is clean and tidy, whether or not there is a sink for employees to wash their hands and if gloves are worn or tongs used when handling food. you can also check for a recent health safety inspection report that should be displayed somewhere on the workstation — for example, toronto’s food establishments are required to post a dinesafe inspection sign where diners can see it, often at the entrance. a green notice is proof that the vendor has passed inspection by the ministry of health; yellow means a conditional pass, usually because an inspection found an infraction that presents a potential health hazard, such as improper cleaning of utensils; and red, which means a clear health risk was identified, such as a lack of running water.

when it comes to street food, the centers for disease control offers these food safety tips : “eat food from street vendors with caution. if you choose to eat street food, follow the same food safety rules as you would with other foods. for example, if you watch something come straight off the grill, cooked and steaming hot, it’s more likely to be safe.”

another piece of advice: be careful of food that is cooked and allowed to sit at room temperatures or in a warmer — it could become contaminated with salmonella and other bacteria while sitting out, posing a risk of food poisoning. (for more on how to tell if you have food poisoning, read do i have food poisoning? )

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cne food vendor maple lodge farms shut down because of 'health hazards'

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