Manitoba Health closes restaurants, supermarkets for rodents, other infractions

More than a dozen food industry businesses — restaurants, supermarkets and wholesalers — have been nailed by Manitoba inspectors for health infractions since December 2015.

The businesses were cited for a range of issues, from a lack of hot water and operating without a permit to insanitary conditions and rodent infestations, says the latest report from Manitoba Health.

All were ordered closed until the problems were addressed, with the closures ranging from one day to a few months.

One business, Ban Tree Coffee on Isabel Street in Winnipeg, has been closed since Oct. 30, 2015, due to "mouse infestation, no certified food handler, insanitary condition and poor food handling practices," the government report says.

Just three others also remain closed:

• Natural Valley Products (Elie, Man.) Closed Dec. 18, 2015:

"Fail to ensure that potentially hazardous foods originate from an approved source; Allow meat that has not been inspected and approved in a food handling establishment; Utilize for food in a food handling establishment, meat that is not inspected and approved; Operate a meat processing plant which processes uninspected meat and fail to be in possession of a valid permit."

• Holy Spice East Indian Cuisine (Thompson, Man.) Closed Dec. 10, 2015:

"Operate a food handling establishment without a permit."

• Robert's Farm (RM of MacDonald) Closed Feb 6, 2016:

"Operate a food handling establishment without a valid permit, sell uninspected meat."

The full report is embedded below.