Public Health Officials Close Chinatown Eatery Where Rats Were Spotted 

By CityNews 

Posted October 9, 2008 12:00 pm.

A day after CityNews cameras caught at least three rats running around inside the Happy Seven restaurant, the establishment was closed by public health officials on Thursday.

Although inspectors with Toronto Public Health couldn’t find any evidence of the rodents Wednesday after first being told about the problem, and therefore opted not to close it down, they reportedly changed their minds a day later after more rats were seen at the eatery.

Head Health Inspector Jim Chan made the decision after viewing CityNews’ latest footage, which was aired on Breakfast Television.

“Well, this is the first time I actually saw the live footage you took this morning, and now it gives us enough evidence to proceed with the closure of the restaurant,” he said.

“Under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, the health inspectors have to observe evidence of infestation. Either we can go in and look for the physical evidence or…you provided us with a statement indicating that you took this footage this morning, and we actually observed live rats in the restaurant.”

“They have to remain closed until they can prove to us that the health hazard has been eliminated.”

One of the furry creatures decided to clean itself in the front window before climbing up to perch on the neon ‘Open’ sign just before 7am Thursday.

The popular Chinatown restaurant had been given a passing grade by officials just days earlier, on October 2.

Toronto Public Health Chair John Filion confirmed earlier that if proof of the rodents was found the restaurant would indeed be shut.

“If you find rodents walking around the kitchen with rodent droppings possibly contaminating cooking surfaces that is an immediate potential health threat and we would shut a restaurant down,” Fillion vowed.

Public health officials were in the neighbourhood on Thursday checking out both the Happy Seven and other restaurants in the area, hoping to find the source of the apparent infestation.

“You know, it’s hard to pinpoint on the location where the infestation is,” adds Chan.  “An older neighbourhood like this, seems to have lots of…infested areas such as a laneways, garages. There’s quite a bit of garbage storage area behind all these restaurants, too.”

“But each restaurant is being assessed independently, individually during routine health inspection, and if the inspector observes any evidence of a health hazard that may be caused by either poison or rats, a closure order will be issued.”

President of neighbouring Kensington Market’s BIA, Chris Devita, believes the problem is far more widespread than Health officials realize.

“It’s not about closing down little restaurants, this entire strip is infested with rats,” he said.

If you see a health code violation in any restaurant, you can report it to Toronto Public Health.

You can also call, 416-338-RATS.