Restaurant forced to close over critical violations

Health inspectors shut down King Yummy Café and Restaurant for nearly a week

Provincial health inspectors forced a restaurant in downtown Charlottetown to close for almost a week over a number of critical violations.

King Yummy Café and Restaurant on Kent Street was shut down following a routine inspection on Oct. 23 and only allowed to reopen on Oct. 26 after officials with the chief public health office were satisfied everything had been addressed.

“There was a routine inspection on Oct. 20, and at that time, a number of critical violations were noted,’’ said Kelly Hughes, chief environment health officer.

Violations included failure by employees to wash hands as often as necessary to prevent contamination of food or equipment, failure to clean and sanitize food contact surfaces with an appropriate product that removes contamination, failure to provide non-food contact surfaces that are smooth, non-absorbent, durable and easily cleaned, failure to maintain the premises and equipment in a clean and sanitary condition and failure to follow a written sanitation plan.

Hughes said violations also included food from approved sources that was in good condition, food being stored properly and properly storing and labelling chemicals to prevent contamination.

There were issues around dishwashing practices but those were corrected during the inspection.

“It was significant enough that it warranted an immediate closure. The operator didn’t argue and co-operated (with us) at the time.’’

The chief public health office operates on a graduated level of enforcement. Inspectors will normally issue a warning letter first, followed by a health order, before shutting an establishment down. In this case, the office went straight to closure.

“There was an imminent risk to public health so that approach was taken.’’

Inspectors went back on Oct. 23 for a re-inspection but determined conditions still weren’t satisfactory enough to permit the restaurant to reopen.

Hughes said there were still critical issues that needed to be addressed, including a thorough sanitization plan.

Another followup inspection was conducted on Oct.

26 where health officials were satisfied all issues had been addressed.,

The Guardian did reach out to management at the restaurant, but the person who spoke to this newspaper said her English wasn’t good and that she would respond by email. Nothing had been received at press time.

Hughes said there will be another followup inspection at the restaurant “sooner rather than later’’ just to see how things are going.

“We want people to feel assured that when we identify serious concerns, we maintain a close relationship with that operator until we feel that there’s a full understanding of the requirements and that expectations are being maintained – that minimum standards are being maintained.

Asia Republic on University Avenue in Charlottetown was also forced to make some changes in October.

Following two inspections in August and September, the chief public health officer issued the premises a warning letter following another inspection, Oct. 2.

Hughes said, “there were some critical items noted’’, such as proper food storage, hygiene and food contact surface concerns.

Health inspectors returns on Oct. 30 and deemed everything was satisfactory.

All of the restaurant and food premises violation warnings are posted on the province’s website.