The Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation au Quebec (MAPAQ) has hit a handful of Montreal fast food restaurants with hefty health inspection fines.
The MAPAQ determined many of the restaurants were not operating in accordance with its health and safety standards, some of which were fined for improper food temperatures and storage, premise cleanliness and staff hygiene issues.
Here are the seven Montreal fast food spots to look out for.
Poutine Lafleur
The exterior of a Poutine Lafleur in Montreal.
Poutine Lafleur in Verdun was hit with a $5,000 MAPAQ health inspection fine. Per the report, Lafleur's violated the rule specifying that "no one may, without holding a valid permit, operate a place or vehicle where the activity of a restaurant is carried out."
The initial visit took place on June 20, 2022. However, it was not finalized by Montreal’s municipal court until March 13, 2024.
Poutine Lafleur is located at 3665, rue Wellington.
Boston Pizza
The exterior of a Boston Pizza in Montreal.
On September 8, 2023, the MAPAQ visited a Boston Pizza located at 7300, boul. des Roseraies in Anjou. The restaurant was fined a total of $1,000, with a final judgment date of April 4, 2024.
The reason for the fine? Improper food temperatures and storage.
"Heat-alterable product, with the exception of whole fresh fruits and vegetables, must be cooled without delay and constantly maintained at an internal and ambient temperature not exceeding 4 C until delivery to the consumer, except during the time required for the application of a manufacturing process or treatment recognized in the food industry and which requires a higher temperature," the MAPAQ report says.
This Boston Pizza location has since permanently shut down.
Poutineville
The exterior of a Poutineville fast food restaurant in Montreal.
A Poutineville location in Montreal's Mile End was fined by the MAPAQ due to "pollutants" and "contaminants" as well as animal remains.
The restaurant, located at 5145, av. du Parc was fined a total of $3,300. The infraction was made back in 2022. However, the final judgement, in collaboration with the Montreal Municipal Court, was made on March 13, 2024.
Basha
The exterior of a Basha restaurant in Montreal.
The MAPAQ inspected a Montreal Basha restaurant on March 8, 2023, fining the café $1,200 due to its lack of cleanliness. According to MAPAQ, the Basha location at 7234A, rue Hutchison in the city's Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension borough, was not "free of all species of animals, including rodents, and insects or their excrement."
The final judgement, in collaboration with the Montreal Municipal Court, was made on April 3, 2024. Per the ministry, the Basha owner has since ceased operations.
Java U
The exterior of a Java U café in Montreal.
The MAPAQ has also fined a Montreal Java U café location $1,000 due to cleanliness issues. According to the ministry, "the place or vehicle must be free of contaminants, pollutants, animals including insects and roars or their excrements."
This specific Java U, located at 1455, rue Guy, near Concordia University, was charged with the infraction on October 25, 2023, with the final judgement, in collaboration with the Montreal Municipal Court, having occurred on May 15, 2024.
Subway (Home Depot)
The exterior of a Subway sandwich shop, located inside a Home Depot, in Montreal.
The MAPAQ fined a Montreal Subway sandwich shop $500. While the date of the infraction was July 18, 2023, the final judgement, in collaboration with the Montreal Municipal Court, was officially made on June 12, 2024.
The Subway restaurant, located inside a Home Depot at 4625, rue Saint-Antoine O., was fined due to unhygienic attire during prep. According to the MAPAQ, "the people involved in preparing products, washing, or cleaning materials and equipment" were either not wearing a clean hat or hairnet that completely covered the hair or were not wearing a beard cover that completely covered their beard.
Buffalo Bill Wings
The exterior of a Buffalo Bill Wings in Montreal.
Following an inspection on February 1, 2023, a Montreal Buffalo Bill Wings has been hit with a $10,500 fine from the MAPAQ. The ministry says it fined the chicken wing restaurant because "no one may, without holding a valid permit, operate a place or vehicle where the activity of a restaurateur is carried out."
The Buffalo Bill Wings, located at 5248, chem. Queen Mary in Montreal's Snowdon neighbourhood, has since ceased operations.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
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