July 17, 2008
Second Cup Has "Adequate Pest Control," But Gets Conditional Pass
Toronto Public Health's Antoine Nikolopoulos has gotten back to us; he's the Entertainment District's Environmental Health Officer, and yesterday he inspected Second Cup's 307 Queen Street West location after Kate Bowen spotted a mouse inside the store on Sunday morning and sent photos along to us.
First and foremost, Nikolopoulos concluded that the store has "adequate pest control." (And Second Cup told us that they were immediately taking additional steps at that particular location to improve upon their existing system.) He noted that food stores like Second Cup are in general considered low risk, because most food is prepared elsewhere and shipped to the store. (Not like, say, Dumpling House.)
Nonetheless, the Queen and John Second Cup received only a conditional pass from Nikolopoulos as a result of one "crucial issue" (an issue that "present[s] an immediate health hazard" according to DineSafe's website), three "significant issues" ("that present a potential health hazard" ), and one "minor" one (that "present[s] a minimal health risk"). The store, Nikolopoulos found, failed to ensure that food—ice—was not contaminated (crucial); failed to ensure that the handwashing basin was used only for handwashing (significant); failed to ensure, since the store's dishwasher was not working, that they had an adequate alternate cleaning system for the glass cups being loaned to customers (significant); was without a working thermometer in a fridge that stored milk (significant); and had one floor that required cleaning (minor). Second Cup is required to fix the issues within 48 hours from the time of inspection, or will face a ticket and potential legal action.
Nikolopoulos told us that in an old building like the one that the Second Cup occupies, it's nearly impossible to plug every possible hole—thus, the potential for a mouse to sneak in, Ratatouille-style. And about how frequently buildings have visitors like the one that Bowen spotted last Sunday at 2 a.m.? "You'd be surprised."
Photo by newyork808.
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Thanks for the follow-up and the reasonable response. It is appreciated.
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OMG OMG PANACHE EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
another bowel-moving story on Torontoist.
cutting-edge journalism.
now please tell me what hot dogs are made out of.
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I suspect Kate was looking to get a free coffee.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnPX6JyHt9k
Looks like "atomeyes99" is just jealous of Second Cup stealing all Toronto's mice... it seems the only thing ATOMEYES' cat can catch is MELON!!!!
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^^^
stalking is creepy...
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(after reading Robin Hatch's comment)
...someone's taken her creepy pills this morning...?
I will not confirm nor deny that it is me in that video, but I will certainly confirm that you are a freak
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I'm sorry, but did the person who wrote this cutting edge piece of journalism ever work at a restaurant before? Perhaps a coffee shop? My guess is no, because frankly, every...EVERY restaurant in this city has pest issues. I have never worked at a place that didn't have cockroaches or mice. There seems to be this idea that places that serve food don't have these problems but if you could look into the walls and floors of your favorite places, they're swarming with bugs, feces and the like.
A mouse? Get over it! The air you breath on that corner is far worse than a mouse pooing into your latte!
and have you ever had a mouse poo latte? It is simply devine!
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Your guess is wrong.
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^^ your post was much more insightful than your previous 2 articles on the Second Cup Mouse That Stole Christmas.
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http://i34.tinypic.com/2jbwk1x.jpg
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Robin_Hatch/1651830009
touche.
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I don't think I'm going to buy anything at Second Cup anytime soon.
So overpriced for the quality anyway. It amazes me that the Second Cup in Sidney Smith Hall has such long lines in between classes - even during the summer. Best off going to the independents - better quality, same price.
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Yeah, that's right, 'the independents are better.' They probably have the same problems (and worse)too, but no, 'the independents are better'.
I'd love to see your reaction when the same reports pop up about your precious 'indies'.
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>http://i34.tinypic.com/2jbwk1x.jpg
You actually took the time to not only do this, but to document it via MSPaint?
...
(http://www.timhortons.com/en/join/team-1.html)