Health code violations shutter Indian bistro
Alberta Health Services has issued a closure notice to a south Edmonton Indian bistro after an inspection found food with a “mouldlike substance”on it and 30 other health code violations.
The nine-page report goes into detail about the conditions found at the Bukhara Indian Bistro, 9266 34 Ave. NW, including the restaurant’s food storage and overall cleanliness. The inspection, which took place earlier this month, noted 30 instances of conditions that could or might become injurious or dangerous to the public health.
Verbal confirmation of the closure order was issued to the owners on Oct. 3.
The inspection noted that food with what appeared to be a “mould-like substance” was found in the walk-in cooler, notable on tomatoes and other vegetables, as well as on paper towels where an ice cream scoop was stored. The same kind of mould was found near the dishwasher, the report noted.
The report said rodent droppings were found inside the dough roller frame, and there was evidence of an extensive mouse infestation within the whole building. Feces and urine from a much larger rodent was also noted in the report, which could have been from something like a wood vole.
The inspector noted dead and live flies in the customer area, and the report said the owners and staff admitted to “sabotaging the pest control company’s program by removing traps, relocating traps, discarding of evidence, removing pest information, and using their own ineffective methods for pest control.”
Other highlights in the report included raw chicken left on the counter; raw meat and seafood left above and beside ready-toeat foods, vegetables and cooked foods; no soap available at the kitchen or bar sinks for handwashing; mothballs or something that contained naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (which are hazardous to breathe in) being used in the bathrooms; and dirty utensils stored with clean ones.
In total, the inspector found 10 breaches under the Public Health Act, Alberta’s food regulations and the food retail and food services code. The owners were given a list of 23 orders to get the restaurant back into shape before it could reopen. The owners may appeal the decision through the public health appeal board.