posted on October 09, 2009

Egg salad runs afoul of law

A group of senior women hoping to raise money for Willistead Manor during Art in the Park likely lost hundreds of dollars after food inspectors spoiled their egg salad with bleach on the weekend.

Published: June 6, 2006
Source: Windsor Star

 

A group of senior women hoping to raise money for Willistead Manor during Art in the Park likely lost hundreds of dollars after food inspectors spoiled their egg salad with bleach on the weekend.

About a dozen women belonging to Friends of Willistead were preparing the egg salad sandwiches inside Willistead Manor just before noon Saturday when three food inspectors from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit arrived unannounced and began citing infractions.

POURED BLEACH

When an inspector asked where the eggs were cooked and was told they were prepared at the ladies' homes, she poured bleach on the sandwiches and the egg salad mixture.

"There was a meanness there," said Brenda Clayton, the president of Friends of Willistead.

"Most unprofessional, really."

Many women were shaken by the ordeal, Clayton said.

"They're over the top on this," said Clayton of the inspectors. "This isn't ordinary hygiene, it's vindictive."

In addition to ruining the egg salad, inspectors also cited the fact the women were not wearing hair nets and that there was a carton of cantaloupes sitting on the floor.

Deb Bennett, the director of health protection for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, said the group was told all the food must be prepared on-site. "That is what we consider a potential hazardous food and unfortunately we could not allow that to be sold," said Bennett.

Clayton said she provided a menu and list of ingredients to the health unit in advance of Art in the Park but didn't learn until Friday the eggs had to be prepared at Willistead.

There is no stove at Willistead and Clayton said she was unable to come up with a backup plan and couldn't get in touch with anyone from the health unit late Friday.

Bennett said it is the duty of a health inspector "to seize the food and destroy the food."

Betty Clinansmith, the vice-president of Friends of Willistead, said the group has been serving sandwich plates at Art in the Park since the early 1980s.

They have ham, tuna and salmon salad as well.

"We've been doing this for years and nobody has ever complained," said Clinansmith, 73.

"Our sandwiches are very popular."

She worked as a cafeteria manager at Hiram Walker and knows the importance of hygiene.

'LOST MY COOL'

"It was all petty things," she said. "I lost my cool and I never lose my cool."

The group spent about $120 on eggs, bread and other ingredients and figure they lost hundreds of dollars in sales.

"We didn't make the money we usually do," said Clinansmith.

"That money goes into restorations on the house (Willistead)."

Clinansmith said the group has decided to buy a two-burner hot plate before next year's Art in the Park.

"It was a really difficult situation," said Clinansmith. City Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac had one of the sandwiches before the inspectors arrived and learned of the incident later.

"I could understand a zealous health department if an event had experienced an outbreak of salmonella or something and people were showing up at hospital," said Gignac.

Bennett said health units across the province are cracking down on food sold at special events such as fairs and festivals.

"There are other health units that are doing the same thing we are across the province," said Bennett.

"Part and parcel of this is to ensure public safety."

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