Academic literature on the topic 'Chain restaurants – Ontario – Toronto'

The use of electronic menus within the food industry is rapidly expanding. Currently, the role of electronic menus as a vehicle for pathogens has not been explored within the restaurant setting. This preliminary study was conducted to assess the hygienic cleanliness of electronic menus and identify if their use in all-you-can-eat (AYCE) sushi restaurants may pose a public health hazard. Five AYCE sushi restaurants in Toronto, Ontario, with electronic menus were randomly selected and were visited twice by the researcher and a public health inspector. A total of 30 electronic menus were sampled using 3M hydrated sponges with buffered peptone water broth and tested for E. coli and total coliforms. All electronic menus tested negative for E. coli although four electronic menus showed presence of total coliforms. The findings from this study suggest the current use of tablets as electronic menus in AYCE sushi restaurants may be less threatening to the safety of the public than previously thought. However, it is important for restaurants to be aware of the potential for electronic menus to serve as a fomite, and proper sanitation procedures should be monitored and enforced to maintain cleanliness.

Introduction: Beef and bean sprouts have often been implicated in foodborne illness (FBI) outbreaks. The traditional Vietnamese dish, Pho, uses both as its main ingredients and, therefore, presents significant concerns from a food safety perspective. The present study investigated food safety concerns associated with Pho through the detection of total coliform and Escherichia coli. Methods: Thirty-two Vietnamese restaurants in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, were selected for the study based on inclusion criteria. All restaurant operators were briefed prior to sampling and were informed that their consent and participation were voluntary. Fourteen restaurants consented to providing samples and allowing their broth temperatures to be taken. Three types of samples were obtained from each location: raw beef (RB), cooked beef (CB), and bean sprouts (BS). All samples were couriered to an accredited laboratory for microbiological analysis via 3M petrifilm E. coli/coliform count plates. Based on reported total coliform count (TCC), locations were segmented into low, medium, and high contamination categories. Subsequent correlational analysis were conducted based on lab detection data to identify potential links between E. coli count (ECC) and TCC, TCC and broth temperature, and ECC and broth temperature. In addition, an ANOVA was performed to examine for differences in TCC by sample types, differences in TCC by suppliers, differences in ECC by sample types, differences in ECC by suppliers, and differences in TCC by location types. Results: ANOVA indicated a significant effect of sample type on TCC for all three different sample types, with post hoc comparisons elucidating significantly lower TCC in CB and RB samples, compared with BS samples. Subsequent analysis further indicated the significant effect of location category on TCC, with post hoc comparisons demonstrating significantly higher TCC in Category 3 locations compared to Category 1 and 2 locations. All other analysis yielded nonstatistically significant results. Conclusion: This study presented significant findings in linking Pho ingredients to potential food safety concerns. Specifically, temperature control was identified as a possible cause for high TCC and E. coli detection at select restaurants. Although analysis involving E. coli did not yield any significant results, any E. coli found on ready-to-eat food at a restaurant is problematic from a food safety perspective. Based on the results, we recommended policy changes to incentivize restaurants to maintain high hygienic standards and improve efficiency of the public health inspection process.

Bacterial carbapenem resistance is a major public health concern since these antimicrobials are often the last resort to treat serious human infections. To evaluate methodologies for detection of carbapenem resistance, carbapenem-tolerant bacteria were isolated from wastewater treatment plants in Toronto, Ottawa, and Arnprior, Ontario. A total of 135 carbapenem-tolerant bacteria were recovered. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) indicated the presence of carbapenem hydrolysing enzymes KPC ( n = 10), GES ( n = 5), VIM ( n = 7), and IMP ( n = 1), and β-lactamases TEM ( n = 7), PER ( n = 1), and OXA-variants ( n = 16). A subset of 46 isolates were sequenced and analysed using ResFinder and CARD-RGI. Both programs detected carbapenem resistance genes in 35 sequenced isolates and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) conferring resistance to multiple class of other antibiotics. Where β-lactamase resistance genes were not initially identified, lowering the thresholds for ARG detection enabled identification of closely related β-lactamases. However, no known carbapenem resistance genes were found in seven sequenced Pseudomonas spp. isolates. Also of note was a multi-drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate from Ottawa, which harboured resistance to seven antimicrobial classes including β-lactams. These results highlight the diversity of genes encoding carbapenem resistance in Ontario and the utility of whole genome sequencing over PCR for ARG detection where resistance may result from an assortment of genes.

Household food waste has negative, and largely unnecessary, environmental, social and economic impacts. A better understanding of current household food waste disposal is needed to help develop and implement effective interventions to reduce food wasting. A four-season waste characterization study was undertaken with 200 single-family households across eight neighbourhoods in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The City of Toronto provides residents with a pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) waste program that includes a choice of four garbage cart sizes (Small [S], Medium [M], Large [L], Extra Large [XL]), with increasing annual user fees ($18.00–$411.00 CAD), as well as a green cart (organic waste) and blue cart (recycling). On average, each household disposed 4.22 kg/week of total food waste, 69.90% of which was disposed in the green cart, and disposal increased significantly (p = 0.03) by garbage cart size to L but not XL garbage carts. Of this total, 61.78% consisted of avoidable food waste, annually valued at $630.00–$847.00 CAD/household. Toronto’s PAYT waste program has been effective at diverting food waste into the green cart but not at reducing its generation. Higher median incomes were positively correlated, while higher neighbourhood dwelling and population density were negatively correlated, with total and avoidable food waste disposal. Regression analyses explained 40–67% of the variance in total avoidable food waste disposal. Higher supermarket density and distance to healthier food outlets were associated with more, while dwelling density was related to less, total and avoidable food waste disposal. Distance to fast food restaurants and less healthy food outlet density were both negatively associated with avoidable food waste disposal in the garbage and green cart, respectively. Avoidable food waste reduction interventions could include increasing garbage cart fees, weight-based PAYT, or messaging to households on the monetary value of avoidable food waste, and working with food retailers to improve how households shop for their food.

Abstract Objective.—To provide an overview of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Toronto, Ontario, which experienced the largest outbreak outside Asia, and to review what has been learned during the past year. Data Sources.—MEDLINE search of all studies related to SARS, including review of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization (WHO), and Health Canada Web sites. Data Synthesis.—During the SARS outbreak in Toronto, 438 people had been diagnosed as having suspected or probable SARS and 44 people died. Elderly people and those with comorbid illnesses were at greatest risk of complications or death. Transmission was via direct contact with respiratory secretions. The use of gloves, gowns, N95 masks, and eye protection was effective in preventing transmission. No transmission occurred before symptom onset or after recovery. Serologic tests suggest that antibodies may not appear until 28 days after illness onset. Molecular tests give their greatest yield during the second week of illness. The value of ribavirin treatment remains questionable. The combination of interferon plus corticosteroids appears to be better than corticosteroids alone. Postmortem examination revealed pulmonary edema and evidence of diffuse alveolar damage. Very few morphological changes were noted in other organs despite the presence of viral RNA as detected by polymerase chain reaction. Conclusion.—On July 5, 2003, the WHO declared that the SARS outbreak was over. Since then, new cases of SARS have been reported in Asia. With global travel, the disease can rapidly spread throughout the world. Therefore, we must remain vigilant to prevent another pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic cancers such as cancer of the cervix can spread locally to involve adjacent structures such as the lumbosacral plexus and the sympathetic chain. When this happens the prognosis is usually poor. An early suspicion of recurrence may result in investigation leading to earlier and better treatment. A physical sign that may be an early and only sign of recurrence is described.OBJECTIVE: To report the late Dr Ramon Evans’ unpublished case series of the hot foot syndrome due to (mostly malignant) retroperitoneal disease. This unique contribution is an opportunity to pay tribute to a man who was a meticulous recorder of the patient narrative and practitioner of a detailed and comprehensive physical examination.METHODS: A longitudinal, observational, retrospective, descriptive study is reported. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 86 patients, 75 of whom had retroperitoneal cancer and 11 of whom were diagnosed with other conditions in that area. Patients referred to the Smythe Pain Clinic were seen at both the Princess Margaret Hospital and Toronto General Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, in the 1970s. They were referred with intractable pain in the leg or back and often a history of a treated abdominal or pelvic cancer in the previous months or years. Baseline demographic data were collected including age, sex, diagnosis, pain location, characteristics and severity, physical findings, investigations and mortality.RESULTS: The 86 subjects comprised 27 men and 59 women. Carcinoma of the cervix was the most common tumour. Most had a presenting complaint of leg pain. Neurological physical signs were demonstrated in the lower extremities in 44%; however, 56% (48 patients) had only an ipsilateral, warm, dry ‘hot foot’ due to sympathetic deafferentation. The prognosis for the underlying illness was poor for the malignant group.DISCUSSION: Sympathetic interruption by cancer is well known in apical lung cancer as the tumour spreads upwards to involve the inferior brachial plexus. An analogous situation occurs as cancers, such as that of the cervix, spread laterally to invade the lumbosacral plexus and sympathetic chain. Signs of sympathetic deafferentation (the ‘hot foot’) may be the earliest and only sign in this situation. This sign may be missed unless it is anticipated and a thorough physical examination carried out.CONCLUSION: Evans’ sign is important because it may be an early and solitary sign of retroperitoneal recurrence of pelvic (cervix, rectum, bladder, ovary and prostate) cancers. Recognition of this finding when intractable pain in the back and leg occurs with a history of this type of cancer could lead to earlier and more successful treatment.

Abstract Introduction/Background The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) recently released the “Global climate change and health of Canadian Children” statement. As climate rapidly evolves from “change” to “crisis” there is an increasing pressure toward sustainable conferencing. Knowing the value of attending meetings, the growing body of literature evaluating travel-related carbon cost and convention sustainability can inform environmental harm minimization. Conferences can pressure venues to increase sustainability by choosing sites and venues wisely and communicating their requirements to rejected venues. They can also offer carbon offset purchase through credible companies (e.g. Gold Standard). Over the last 10 years the CPS has conducted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at host cities that reflect Canada’s large geographic footprint. Venues included both hotel and standalone conference centers. There is no published evaluation of sustainable practices for CPS meetings. Objectives Evaluate the past 10 CPS Annual General Meetings (AGMs) for: Design/Methods Travel-related carbon cost was estimated with a round-trip calculator for economy seating the most direct available flights (https://co2.myclimate.org/en/offset_further_emissions). Cities of origin for attendee were the 11 CaRMS-matched pediatric residency training programs (https://www.carms.ca/match/psm/program-descriptions/). Venues were evaluated based on current publicly available self-reported information using conference sustainability criteria suggested through a literature review and public rating tools (Green Key, Quality Standards of the International Association of Convention Centres). Ground transportation from the airport was scored /3 by: public transport from airport (1), formal shared transport (1), fee deterrence for parking (1). Venue type was split by hotel-associated (H) and standalone convention centre (CC) meeting facilities. Sustainability of meeting facilities was divided into supports /2 (rentable supports, links to local vendors, catering and personnel) for exhibitors (1) and event planners (1), policies /3 by: sustainability, promotion of a green community (1), and waste management (1), and walkability from accommodation /1. Results The last 10 CPS AGMs were held in western (3; Vancouver 2010, Edmonton 2013, Vancouver 2017), eastern (1; Charlottetown 2016) and central (6; Quebec City 2011, London 2012, Montreal 2014, Toronto 2015, Quebec City 2018, Toronto 2019) provinces; in 2020 it is in Vancouver. Central Canada sites had the lowest air travel carbon cost per attendee. Average air travel-related carbon cost per attendee for different host cities ranged from 0.479 (London) to 0.919 (Vancouver) tonnes, with Ontario and Quebec sites averaging 0.518, Charlottetown 0.654 and Edmonton 0.756 tonnes. Ground transportation scores differed by city from Montreal (3/3 with public transit, formal transportation share and parking fees to dissuade driving) to London (0/3), with more favorable public transit options in larger cities. Venues differed when divided by hotel with meeting facilities (H) vs standalone conference center (CC), with CC outranking H for clearly posted sustainability plans (1.6 vs 1.2/2; 2=venue-specific, 1=company chain policy, 0=no plan), green and sustainable community building plans (1.6 vs 1.2/2; 2=greening local communities, 1=company chain policy, 0=no plan) and green waste management policies (1.2 vs 0/2; 2=venue-specific, 1=company chain policy, 0=no plan). Walkable accommodation was equal and present for all venues, with attached accommodation for all but one CC (Montreal), which had immediately adjacent hotels available. Conclusion As expected, the carbon cost of air transportation per attendee was lower in central provinces. Ground transportation from the airport was better in larger host cities. Standalone conference centres had more sustainable event support and locally focused policies regarding sustainability, environmentally friendly community building initiatives and waste management solutions, three major components of “greening” conferences. Based on the available resources across Canada, we recommend that the CPS considers these sustainability criteria in planning future events.

In the digital era of the 21st century, data analytics (DA) can be highlighted as 'finding conclusions based on observations' or unique knowledge discovery from data (KDD) in form of patterns and visualizations for ease of understanding. The city of Toronto consists of thousands of food chains, restaurants, bars based all over the streets of the city. Dinesafe is an agency-based inspection system monitored by the provincial and municipal regulations and ran by the Ministry of Health, Ontario. This chapter proposes an efficient descriptive data analytics on the Dinesafe data provided by the Health Ministry of Toronto, Ontario using an open-source data programming framework like R. The data is publicly available for all the researchers and motivates the practitioners for conveying the results to the ministry for betterment of the people of Toronto. The chapter will also shed light on the methodology, visualization, types and share the results from the work executed on R.

This chapter describes the effects of availability of digital knowledge on teaching, learning, and assessment, and the emergence of pedagogy for conceptual thinking with meaning equivalence in different knowledge domains in early digital era. It includes three proof-of-concept implementations of meaning equivalent reusable learning objects (MERLO) in three different contexts: 1) Course ‘Risk management in the Supply Chain' at Material and Manufacturing Ontario (MMO) Centre of Excellence, in 2002, to evaluate the potential of MERLO to assess and improve learning outcomes in workplace workshops to be offered jointly by MMO and University of Toronto Innovation Foundation; 2) in 2004, secondary school courses in mathematics, physics, and chemistry at Russian Academy of Sciences, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Lycee ‘Physical-Technical High School' at St. Petersburg, to train teachers in administering MERLO formative assessments and evaluate learning outcomes in STEM courses (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics); 3) in 2006, implementing MERLO pedagogy, including development of MERLO databases for grades 9 – 12 mathematics courses at Independent Learning Center (ILC) of TVOntario.