Pizza Hut customers are disgusted after seeing a video showing food containers stored inside the bathroom of one of the chain’s locations in Ajax, ON.
Earlier this week, a TikTok user shared a video of food supplies, like containers, bags and pizza boxes, inside a washroom in a Pizza Hut located at the intersection of Rossland Rd. and Carter Bennett Dr.
In the video, the resident says she went to use the washroom before ordering a pizza at the restaurant, when she spotted a shelf filled with food supplies right next to a toilet, which didn’t have a lid.
“This actually makes no sense to me. Every time a toilet is flushed, particles from that toilet [fly] up in the air. How is this even acceptable,” she said.
In the comments, other residents were shocked with the video, with many concerned about the possibility of food contamination.
“Omg have you seen the video of what happens when you flush without the seat closed 😳😳😳,” one user said.
“Call public health and report it. Instant inspection. This is not acceptable,” another user urged.
“Could you kindly tell us the location so we can avoid it,” a different user added.
Other residents who saw the video also took complaints into the location’s Google Reviews, urging others not to dine at the restaurant.
“Unquestionably under qualified staff. Take out boxes and pizza boxes stored next to [the] toilet in [the] washroom. This place needs to be closed, the staff terminated and a complete reevaluation of how things need to be done to make people feel safe when eating out in this establishment again,” a user said.
Pizza Hut Canada also responded to the original video after being tagged by the author, saying that it would take action to address the situation.
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We take this seriously, as it doesn’t reflect our standards. We’re working quickly to resolve the issue,” it commented.
INFECTION RISKS
In 2022, researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder conducted a study using bright green lasers and camera equipment to show what happens when someone flushes a toilet without closing its lid.
The scientists revealed that pathogens like E. coli, C. difficile, noroviruses and adenoviruses from infected users, remain attached to the toilet bowl even after multiple flushes, posing infection risks.
In a video accompanying the study, it is possible to see several water droplets, which are invisible to the human eye, flying from the toilet as it is flushed.
Now Toronto contacted the Durham Region Health Department, which said that storing food containers in the washroom could in fact pose a contamination risk to customers.
According to them, storing culinary supplies incorrectly is a violation of regulation 493, section 7(1) (h) of the Ontario’s Food Premises Regulation, which states that food containers should be stored in a way to remove risk of contamination.
“Single-service articles are defined as any container or eating utensil that is to be used only once in the service or sale of food. Storing these items in the washroom can pose a contamination risk by customers using the washroom. Therefore, this is in contravention of Regulation 493, section 7(1) (h) as these items are not being stored in a sanitary manner,” it said in an email on Friday.
The health department also revealed that it has received a complaint on Thursday about the situation. After an immediate inspection, it said that the restaurant has already removed the containers from the washroom and the issue has since been resolved.
“Durham Region Health Department’s priority is to protect the public from food-borne illness. We take all non-compliances seriously and will investigate this issue immediately. This issue had been raised to our Department yesterday and an investigation was carried out; at the time of inspection, the items had already been removed and the washroom cleaned thoroughly,” it wrote.
It also thanked customers for bringing this situation to its attention, and asked that anyone who witnesses a possible health-related issue should alert the department.
