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Ram kitchen sort of gets a pass

By Tanya Mok

A greasy ventilation system is to blame for the Ram in the Rye and Oakham House Cafe’s most recent conditional pass from Toronto Public Health.

According to Eric Newstadt, the general manager of Ryerson’s two most popular eateries, the joint kitchen received a conditional pass after its Nov. 30 inspection due to “expected and unavoidable” grease build up in the overhead airways.

“The inspector was a little unreasonable for citing us for that infraction,” said Newstadt, maintaining that the kitchen hires ventilation cleaners once every three months, which is double the frequency of the manufacturer’s recommendations.

According to Toronto’s DineSafe inspection report, this is just the latest violation that the restaurants have been charged with, having violated five Ontario Food Premises Regulations in 2010.

Minor infractions included failing to ensure proper employee hygiene and inadequate pest control, while failure to protect food from contamination was listed as the establishment’s only crucial infraction.

The kitchen was given 48 hours to correct these violations and after health inspectors confirmed that significant changes had been made, the conditional pass was upgraded to an unqualified pass.

“We’re not making any excuses,” said Newstadt. “It won’t be happening again.”

This is the third time since December 2008 that both establishments have been given conditional passes. That year they had six infractions, but as of Nov. 9, 2010 they only had one.

Norine Schofield, a Toronto Health Inspector, says that the conditions of restaurants are reflective of the people that run the business.

“You simply cannot put the public at risk,” she said. “It’s like your home; you’re either a pig or you’re not.”

The Ram and Oakham Cafe aren’t the only food venues on Ryerson’s campus that have gotten multiple conditional passes in the last few years. On Dec. 7, the Hub Market Cafeteria received a conditional pass, it’s second since July 27.

 

1 Comment

  1. Anonymous

    The grease build up on the ventilation system was not the cause for the conditional pass. Look at the inspection report carefully. It clearly says that the crucial and significant infractions were failure to protect food from contamination and failure to provide adequate hand washing facilities. Those two infractions have nothing to do with the greasy exhaust system. That is listed as a MINOR infraction. The failure to provide adequate hand washing facilities has to do with the cafe staff using the double sink behind the counter to wash their hands AND hold ice. Obviously that is a major cause for concern considering dirty hands should not be washed over clean ice. The failure to protect food from contamination has to do with the fact that hot foods are not cooled down properly, leading to the potential for bacterial growth, and for leaving food out at room temperature that is supposed to be refrigerated. The greasy exhaust system story is just a lie to cover up the real infractions.

    Establishment Inspection Report

    OAKHAM HOUSE CAFE/RAM IN THE RYE
    63 GOULD ST TORONTO Banquet Facility
    Minimum inspections per year: 3

    Most Recent Inspection Finding

    Date Inspected: Dec 2, 2011

    This establishment was inspected by Toronto Public Health in accordance with the Ontario Food Premises Regulation, and passed the inspection.
    Inspection History

    Date Inspected: Nov 30, 2011

    Conditional Pass FAILURE TO PROTECT FOOD FROM CONTAMINATION Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated C Notice to Comply
    FAILURE TO ENSURE / PROVIDE FOR PROPER EMPLOYEE HYGIENE / HANDWASHING Operator fail to provide separate handwashing sink(s) S Notice to Comply
    IMPROPER MAINTENANCE / SANITATION OF NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES / EQUIPMENT Operator fail to properly wash surfaces in rooms M Notice to Comply
    Operator fail to properly wash equipment M Notice to Comply
    INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL Operator fail to provide adequate pest control S Notice to Comply

    Date Inspected: March 9, 2011

    This establishment was inspected by Toronto Public Health in accordance with the Ontario Food Premises Regulation, and passed the inspection.
    Date Inspected: Nov 10, 2010

    This establishment was inspected by Toronto Public Health in accordance with the Ontario Food Premises Regulation, and passed the inspection.

    Date Inspected: Nov 9, 2010

    Conditional Pass FAILURE TO ENSURE / PROVIDE FOR PROPER EMPLOYEE HYGIENE / HANDWASHING Employee fail to wash hands when required C Notice to Comply

    Legend

    M Minor
    S Significant
    C Crucial

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