Industry reacts to restaurant closures

People in the restaurant industry in Winnipeg are talking about the current food inspection system after a CBC I-Team investigation.

The series found eight restaurants in Winnipeg closed in the past year due to health violations.

• From Nov. 9, 2004: 'Filthy' conditions close city restaurants

While many say they would be open to more scrutiny, they're not sure they would want to go as far as Toronto.

In Toronto, colour-coded signs indicating a pass or a fail are posted at the restaurant. There is also a website that posts a restaurant's status as well. Restaurants there are inspected up to three times a year. In Winnipeg, health inspectors usually get to restaurants and any public place that serves food once a year.

Scott Gerrits of the Holiday Inn in Winnipeg says he thinks the system here should change.

"I think there should be more inspections," he says. "Having a system would be a good idea. I don't think right now there's really a specific routine in place that allows a customer to go into a place and even know what's the quality of the restaurant, what is the rating of it?"

Brad Kramble, with Perkins Restaurant in Winnipeg says he wouldn't want to see the system follow Toronto's lead.

"I wouldn't be a fan of putting a sticker on the window, only because I'm not sure that's fair for everybody," he says. "You could come in and have one incident at a certain time which doesn't reflect what your actual restaurant is like all the other time."

The head of the Manitoba Restaurant Association hopes to work with the city to get more workers trained in proper food handling.