inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf

inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf
get healthing in your inbox with the morning checkup and weekender newsletter!

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

when it comes to fairs and festivals, there isn't always access to the usual food safety tools like running water, but there are steps you can take to avoid food poisoning.

by karen hawthorne
published aug 24, 2022
read time 2 minute read
join the conversation
read time 2 minute read
join the conversation
lack of hot water to wash utensils just one cne food safety infraction
the ferris wheel spins as the canadian national exhibition (cne) reopens after a two year covid-19 hiatus in toronto, ontario, canada august 19, 2022. reuters/carlos osorio
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.”
the other charges are related to an alleged lack of supplies at handwashing stations and not providing hot and cold water in the utensil washing area.
and while one would think that food safety is of the utmost importance for sellers, particularly when it comes to prep and handling, there are steps you can take to ensure that what you are buying to put into your stomach won’t make you sick.
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.”

related stories

your kitchen sponge may 'have a higher number of bacteria than there are people on earth'
a new study found that salmonella and other bacteria survive better on sponges than on kitchen brushes.
researchers found that when it comes to cleaning a sponge, from bleaching to boiling, no method makes a major difference in killing bacteria. getty

advice: is it safe to drink cocktails with raw egg?
egg white or egg yolk can make a drink look delicious — but it could also contain salmonella.
pisco sours, which contain egg whites, are delicious. but are they safe to drink? (getty)
story continues below

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.”
powered by
canadian society for exercise physiology
story continues below
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?)
 
karen hawthorne is a toronto-based writer.
don’t miss a thing: sign-up for healthing’s newsletter
thank you for your support. if you liked this story, please send it to a friend. every share counts.
karen hawthorne
karen hawthorne

karen hawthorne worked for six years as a digital editor for the national post, contributing articles on health, business, culture and travel for affiliated newspapers across canada. she now writes from her home office in toronto and takes breaks to bounce with her son on the backyard trampoline and walk bingo, her bull terrier.

read more about the author

comments

postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. we ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. we have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. visit our community guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

you may also like
group of young female athlete doing warm up exercises during sports training at health club. focus is on happy woman in black.
international self-care day: are you practicing authentic self-care?
happy mother and daughter eat pizza in a cafe and having fun.
study links ultra-processed foods to increased risk of stroke and cognitive decline 
doctor holding red heart. selective focus, man's hands in close-up. concept of good health, cardiovascular diseases prevention, healthy lifestyle promotion, human organ donation, implantation
gut health and heart disease: study shows bacteria impacts cholesterol and cardiovascular health
woman choosing frozen food from a supermarket freezer
listeria 101: breaking down causes, spotting symptoms and preventing listeriosis
senior couple shopping vegetables and fruits on the market. healthy diet.
healthy eating and older adults: solutions to common challenges
you may also like
group of young female athlete doing warm up exercises during sports training at health club. focus is on happy woman in black.
international self-care day: are you practicing authentic self-care?
happy mother and daughter eat pizza in a cafe and having fun.
study links ultra-processed foods to increased risk of stroke and cognitive decline 
doctor holding red heart. selective focus, man's hands in close-up. concept of good health, cardiovascular diseases prevention, healthy lifestyle promotion, human organ donation, implantation
gut health and heart disease: study shows bacteria impacts cholesterol and cardiovascular health
woman choosing frozen food from a supermarket freezer
listeria 101: breaking down causes, spotting symptoms and preventing listeriosis
you may also like
group of young female athlete doing warm up exercises during sports training at health club. focus is on happy woman in black.
international self-care day: are you practicing authentic self-care?
happy mother and daughter eat pizza in a cafe and having fun.
study links ultra-processed foods to increased risk of stroke and cognitive decline