Health order for local Burger King disputed by parent company
AHS ISSUES ORDER OVER EVIDENCE OF LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS IN RESTAURANT
ABurger King restaurant in Lethbridge was issued a health order by Alberta Health Services over the presence of sleeping or living accommodations found during an inspection.
The order was issued by Alberta Health Services to Sadiq Holdings Inc. in regards to the Burger King located at 1950 3 Av. S. and dated Jan. 10.
The Burger King parent company disputed the order in an email on Wednesday:
“We have spoken to the Restaurant Owner, who independently owns and operates this location, and he has confirmed that the accusations regarding accommodations are not true,” read an email statement.
“We have also been advised that the Alberta Health Services has rescinded their notice. However, we will continue to ensure compliance with our high operational standards.”
AHS also issued a statement Wednesday afternoon, confirming the order had been rescinded but not because of an error:
“At this time, the work has been
completed and the order has been rescinded as of this morning.”
Burger King did not respond to a request for clarification in regards to these conflicting statements.
Allowing sleeping or living accommodations in a commercial food establishment is a health code violation. The order states: “An operator must ensure that, before operation of the commercial food establishment commences, has all its foodhandling areas separated from living quarters and from other areas where activities are carried out that are incompatible with the
safe and sanitary handling of food.”
The company had been directed to remove all mattresses and associated furnishings and no longer allow individuals to stay, live, or sleep in the restaurant premises by Wednesday.
The health order also cited the restaurant for failing to properly clean and repair “significant” damage and mess from previous flooding in a basement room due to a broken pipe, and to deal with a storage room full of excess unused equipment in the basement.
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