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Recently, Peel Public Health officials went on an inspection blitz of the region’s restaurants.

This led to officials handing out “conditional passes” to six Brampton, Ont., eateries.

The inspections are to ensure compliance with food safety standards. Yet given the significance of the violations – many of which fall under the “significant risk” category; some of which fall under the “critical risk” category – it seems odd that conditional passes were still handed out.

Indeed, according to Peel Public Health, the restaurants cited violated most – and in some cases, all – of the following health and sanitation standards:

• Did operator keep potentially hazardous food out of the temperature danger zone, and provide adequately sized refrigeration and/or hot-holding equipment/space for the safe storage of such food? (Critical risk) —Not in compliance.
• Did operator store food to prevent contamination and/or adulteration? (Significant risk) — Not in compliance.
• Did operator properly wash and sanitize utensils? — Not in compliance.
• Did operator maintain non-food contact surfaces clean, sanitary and in good condition? — Not in compliance.
• Did operator maintain every washroom in a sanitary condition? — Not in compliance.
• Did operator take adequate measures to maintain food premises in a condition that prevent harbourage or breeding of pests? (Significant risk) — Not in compliance.
• Is at least one food handler/supervisor with valid food handler certification present on-site during every hour of operation? — Not in compliance. Did operator use good housekeeping practices? — Not in compliance.
• Did operator provide the required supplies at each handwashing station? — Not in compliance.
• Did food handler(s) wash hands to prevent contamination of food and/or food contact surfaces? (Significant risk) — Not in compliance.

• Did every food handler(s) follow proper hygiene practices while working with food? — Not in compliance.
• Did operator provide a test reagent to determine the concentration of sanitizer? — Not in compliance.
• Did operator maintain and operate food premises in a sanitary manner? (Significant risk) — Not in compliance.
• Did operator maintain the mechanical ventilation system to remove odours, fumes, vapours, smoke and excessive heat? — Not in compliance.
• Did operator protect the premises against the entry of pests and maintain records of all pest control measures? — Not in compliance.
• Did operator use good housekeeping practices? — Not in compliance.

• Did the operator process food in a manner that makes it safe to eat? (Critical risk) — Not in compliance
• Did operator store food to prevent contamination and/or adulteration? (Critical risk) — Not in compliance.
• Did operator maintain and operate food premises in a sanitary manner? (Significant risk) — Not in compliance.

Five of the restaurants – The Indian Sweet House and Restaurant, Tandoori Rasoi & Sweets, Standard Sweets & Restaurant, Delhi Hub Restaurant and Yummy Punjabi Flavours – would all appear to have something in common. Alas, we can’t quite put our finger on it…

In the meantime, we must ponder what Brampton Mayor “Sneaky” Patrick Brown has to say about this most recent fiasco to emerge in his city …