

Web Staff, cp24.com





The president of a high-end grocery store that was shut down for a myriad of public health code violations Thursday says the problem may have been started by an overseas shipment.

"We haven't really put our finger on it, but in 25 years of this facility being open we have never had this type of issue ever," Pusateri's Fine Foods President Frank Luchetta told CP24 Friday afternoon. "We have always prided ourselves on having the highest standards in production and in quality."

Toronto health officials visited the Avenue Road location of Pusateri's at about 2 p.m. Thursday and promptly ordered the business to close.

According to an inspection report, inspectors cited the store for several violations, including failures to provide adequate pest control and to prevent an insect infestation.

Equipment wasn't being properly maintained, required supplies weren't provided at sinks, easy-to-read thermometers weren't provided, rooms weren't properly maintained, and surfaces and equipment weren't being washed properly, the report stated.

Luchetta told CP24 that Toronto Public Health officials found mouse droppings and cockroaches in a basement area used for food storage.

Rishma Govani, TPH spokesperson, initially said that there was evidence of rats on the premises but on Friday Govani corrected herself to say health inspectors found mouse droppings.

Luchetta said 150 staff members have been working around the clock to address the problem. His hope is that the store will pass a follow-up inspection and reopen Saturday.

"We are working with public health and they will come as soon as we ask them to, but I want to make sure everything is 110 per cent ready before we make that call," he said.

In an interview with CP24 Friday afternoon, the manager of Toronto Public Health said a complaint from a member of the public resulted in inspectors visiting Pusateri's Thursday. Once there, they decided that a full inspection was necessary.

"We don't do closures lightly. In fact this was only the 36th this year, but we had four inspectors going through it and all agreed," Wolf Saxler said. "Our first priority is to public and if we come across conditions that require a closure we will take the actions required."

Saxler confirmed that the majority of the violations found were in a storage area that wasn't open to the public, but said that doesn't negate the risk to the public.

He said Toronto Public Health will make inspectors available to Pusateri's over the weekend should they require them.

"We will be available to reopen them when they are ready," he said.

Before Thursday's shutdown, the Avenue Road location of Pusateri's had a clean record when it came to inspections, passing five inspections between November 2009 and last August.



