Posted: June 26th, 2012 - 10:05am
Source: The Record

WATERLOO REGION -- It was another banner year for Waterloo regional food inspectors as they conducted a record number of inspections, laid more charges and trained more people in food safety, according to a 2011 report.
This is the second consecutive year that records were set in local food inspections.
“2011 was a year of more for us,” David Young, the regional health unit’s director of health protection and investigations, told regional councillors earlier this week.
Chris Komorowski, regional manager of food safety, said the number of inspections have been increasing gradually over the past six years due to increased efficiencies.
“We’re moving up the scale,” he said.
Last year, 4,777 inspections were conducted, 203 more than in 2010.
A total of 43 charges were laid against 22 food establishments, up from 29 charges against 16 food premises in 2010. The most common charge was failure to sanitize equipment and or food preparation areas.
Only one premise was ordered closed last year, compared with three in 2010. That case involved a vendor at the St. Jacob’s Farmer’s Market, Komorowski said.
Inspectors destroyed about 896 kilograms of food, similar to the 795 kilograms of food destroyed in 2010.
There are about 2,300 food premises in the region and 25 food inspectors.
A record 1,590 food handlers were certified under the region’s food safety program thanks to Conestoga College starting to offer the program last year.
The growing number of special events in the region – reaching 473 last year - kept inspectors busy. A total of 446 food vendors were inspected at 53 of these events.