New Dynasty Restaurant issued notice of closure

Dr. Vivien Suttorp, Medical Health Officer with AHS in the South Zone, said the health service received a complaint from a member of the public, which then led to a health inspection.

An infestation of cockroaches was found, according to Suttorp. Live cockroaches were spotted on the walls, floors and shelves, in glue traps and on surfaces of egg casings.

The Notice of Closure issued by Alberta Health Services

“For restaurants…we do three annual inspections a year and those are (with) the health inspectors and they look at the food regulation and compliance with the food regulation,” she told media on Thursday.

She noted that New Dynasty Restaurant hasn’t seen any “critical” violations in years past.

COCKROACHES

Suttorp said cockroaches are not that common in Southern Alberta this time of year, but AHS has seen them in housing units.

“We have not seen much of it in restaurants. Cockroaches are interesting little critters in that they multiply very quickly and they’re actually nocturnal, so even if we do an inspection, we may not see them because they’re not there in the daylight,” she said.

“Their feces can create allergies. The other thing is they can transmit bacterial infections to food and through food, such as salmonella, and people would get diarrhea illness from that.”

She said the restaurant is using the services of a pest control company to rid the building of the insects.

She noted that the business owner and staff have also received a recommendation on Food Safe courses to take, and a recommendation to make sure all containers are properly sealed.

“Part of the education in Food Safe courses is around the handling and temperature for thawing out meat products,” she added.

Alberta Health Services does not handle the pest control but does verify that a reputable company has done their job.

Dr. Suttorp displays some of the cockroaches found (Lethbridge News Now)

Suttorp said this isn’t a type of closure where AHS will have to call customers.

“This is more a proactive measure to prevent transmission of diseases or other risks that may come up with food compliance issues.”

She said it’s “not very common” in Southern Alberta that AHS issues closure notices.

“We really try to work with all our partners, be it a swimming pool operator, a housing operator or restaurant operator, we really try to work with our partners to protect the public,” she said.

“If there really is a critical issue, a sudden closure like this is very rare…usually we don’t come in hard-fisted, if you will, we usually try to build that capacity and work with partners.”

The cockroaches found at New Dynasty Restaurant are not what you may picture, being a lot smaller and beige unlike the big, dark cockroaches seen on television.

“Things that people can do to identify and know what a cockroach looks like, keep all your food in your kitchen closed, keep the garbage can closed, keep all your containers closed so that these critters can’t get in there,” she suggested, so residents can avoid an infestation of their own.

RISK TO THE PUBLIC?

Suttorp said although there is no imminent danger to the public, signs have been posted on the building to stay in line with the Public Health Act and Duty to Inform.

“We don’t want to be punitive; we have a very good working relationship with this food establishment. It really is not about trying to inform the public that they’ve been at risk and to not eat here. This is not what the purpose is.” she said.

“There’s a duty to notify under the Public Health Act and really, the risk to people who have eaten there is extremely minimal. It’s more moving forward that there is no risk and that cockroaches, they can go from a few to many in a very short order, and then there’s that risk of transmission of other organisms if there’s open food containers.”

One of the signs on the restaurant’s door (Lethbridge News Now)

New Dynasty Restaurant will remain closed until further notice.

“There’s not a specific timeline that AHS has put on there. We work with the pest control company, and knowing when they’re done, (we) go back and do a re-inspection.”

by Justin Goulet

New Dynasty Restaurant issued notice of closure

What's Happening