In perhaps a reaction to the recent high profile shut-downs of Chinatown and Kensington restaurants. Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health will be recommending measures to curb food illness outbreaks on Monday, April 20, 2009. The findings from a series of 3 reports on Toronto’s Food Safety and Foodborne Illness will be presented to Toronto city council on Monday. The municipal government is expected to call on the provincial and federal levels to implement more stringent and transparent procedures to ensure public food safety.

Personally, I don’t want to see Toronto’s reputation go to the gutters. Most visitors and tourists have a good impression of the food scene here, so let’s keep it that way. It just seems wrong when street vendors operate more hygienically than restaurants. There’s no excuse!

The report also exposes that an estimated 1 in 6 Toronto residents get sick every year over food hygiene related issues. That’s a high number! Are you in that number? What restaurants have you ventured into and swear to avoid due to is hygiene issues? Comment here if you’ve got stories!