If anyone has ever been in a CoffeeTime, you should tell that these are the bottom of the barrel chains. They always look dirty. Even before this report came out, I would not eat or drink here. Posted by: jh | Feb 21, 07 07:58 PM

Thank you very much Erica for this story. I recently visited a major chain coffee shop in the Fall and found the store sworming with flies. They were on everything and they were sitting on the donuts. When I called the main office and spoke to the District Manager, he informed me that out of 30 of his stores, 29 have flies due to the garbage being located near the drive thru window. Not only was the manager at the store level very rude, but the Head office was just as terrible. I never have stepped foot in this location since. This story with the lady picking her teeth made me sick. I really enjoy your stories and believe this story needs a follow up on the man from Coffee Time with the 17 violations. Honestly, he needs to be shut down. I hope you will do more stories on customer service industry, training, mannerisms and contractors. I love Mike Holmes, his show is very informative, and seeing him on your show was very helpful. Keep up the great job. Carly Cummings Posted by: Carly Cummings | Feb 21, 07 08:04 PM

Great story as compared to the US versions. I have worked in Canada for the leading food safety company in North America for 20 years and this was well done! Congratulations.For those individuals and or companies requiring real help they may contact me directly or visit our web site at wwww.steritech.com. Sincerely, Paul Valder Posted by: Paul Valder | Feb 21, 07 08:08 PM

After watching your report on restaurant health inspections I was surprised that OTTAWA does not make this information available to the public online. I have lived in the various areas in the US and this information was readily available. Whenever we went out to eat I would check out the facilities health inspection before we decided to eat there. With 11-13 million Canadians getting food-borne illnesses we have the right to know that where we chose to eat is safe. The rights of the consumer should outweigh that of the business in this potentially life threatening issue. Posted by: Rita | Feb 21, 07 08:22 PM

Dear Erica, Great maketplace last night! Well researched and uncovered. I have 20 years experience with North Americas foremost Brand Protection company, specializing in food safety for the food service, hopsitality and retails sectors. last year alone Steritech conducted over 45000 food safety audits in 28 countries and if we can be of any help please don't hesitate to call me. Ben Chapman can give us a positive refernce as the U of Guelph food services is actually an account for Steritech. And thank you very much for making my job easier, since I have been after buisness with Coffee Time and Second Cup for years. I hope both these companies now understand how important food safety is to protecting their brand. Very Sincerely, Paul Valder Posted by: Paul Valder | Feb 21, 07 08:28 PM

I'm not surprised. I was truck driver for many year and have to stop at differentes places like this and I have to refused some food because the waitress was cleaning with the comptoir/desk with the same glove than she took a bagel and she cleaned a knife with the same fabric and product she just cleaned everything (exept the floor may be) and started to cut my bagel with it. Is not necessary the food place the probleme but the education and not enough reaction from the boss also (I will thank a employee like that and ask here to go find a another job, it will teach people). Posted by: patricia | Feb 21, 07 08:34 PM

Food Safety Training is a critical part of any program to prevent foodborne illness. Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) offers food safety certification through their National Food Safety Training Program www.crfa.ca/nfstp. Posted by: Kevin Freeborn | Feb 21, 07 08:39 PM

enjoyed the show I wish public health would visit grocery stores cold meat ( deli ) departments servers wear gloves BUT then use scale button and move to next customer with their hands on their hips then lift the meat , please go watch and observe Ann Posted by: ann thain | Feb 21, 07 08:49 PM

Thanks havens as a shareholder of Tim Horton's "we passed". I would like to suggest a topic for "Marketplace" I have just booked some trips with Air Canada & a day later I get e-mails announcing "seat sales" I am trying to book the cheapest flights & usually look ahead before reserving a place. Yet, the minute I lock in, invariably the prices drop. Why does "Air Canada" constantly change their prices. Another thing that really bothers me is this: A flight from Florida to Montreal has a $100- difference from one day to the next. I can understand a w-e flight, but I wanted to come back on a Tuesday, yet had to settle on Wendsday, since there was a $100- difference if I had flown out Tuesday. (This is on a one-way fare) I wish you could investigate this matter. A very faithfull watcher of Market-Place. Sincerely: Eva J. Baer Montreal Posted by: Eva J. Baer | Feb 21, 07 09:05 PM

What a great show, though no big surprise that Coffee Time was at the top of the list for violations. I have never gone into a Coffee Time as I'm afraid to (this show has reinforced that). How could this VP defend the chain? And why was the interview done in what looked like a newer/recently renovated Coffee Time? Why not the one on Parliament with all the violations? That would have been a real treat! Posted by: Jim | Feb 21, 07 09:11 PM

the Tim Hortons muffins and donuts are all in a case wide open to flies all summer!! how did this pass inspections? Posted by: sandra hachey | Feb 21, 07 09:23 PM

Excellent expose. Really makes you think twice about eating out. Keep them coming, Marketplace. Posted by: Arnold Van Lambalgen | Feb 21, 07 09:32 PM

I consider myself extremely lucky that we don't have Coffee Time in Montreal. Posted by: Adèle Flannery | Feb 21, 07 10:04 PM

Hi folks. I so enjoy your informative programs. Sadly I missed tonight's program on Coffee. Feb.2l,prog #6228. Is there a way to get it for me to print it on my computer? Or, when will it be shown again? Posted by: Mrs. Patsy MacMullin | Feb 21, 07 10:20 PM

My grandaughter became ill from food at Pearson Airport & we had to drive 300 miles back home as she was so ill. After playing telephone tag for 2 days, I finally found out that int'l. airport restaurants are inspected by FEDERAL Dept. of Health. No one knew that at the Toronto Dept. of Health, the Ont. Dept. of Health or the airport. Or they were just passing the buck. I could get no satisfaction from the Federal Inspector as to the inspections at that particular restaurant. As a matter of fact, he had quite an attitude. I'm still fighting for 2 ticket refunds from the restaurant. Posted by: Mary Anne Secord | Feb 21, 07 10:26 PM

While Coffee Time obviously has no idea how to operate a clean and safe establishment, I wonder why Marketplace does nothing to enlighten the public at large about other chainsin smaller places like the coffee jugernaught Tim Hortons. When you obtain your results from large Canadian Cities and have next to no data from rural municipalities, of course your data will show a large amount of health report findings from a company whose restaurants are only in large cities. Ok Marketplace team...here's the plan..find the worst, spend half an hour on them and only them, find one of their ex employees, then have that ex employee promote food saftey for the second worst offender. Isn't journalism supposed to be impartial? Not when funded by the Canadian Taxpayer. Posted by: Paul D | Feb 21, 07 10:42 PM

Way to go Marketplace! Was waiting for a story like this...I knew Coffee Time was the worst...everytime I go into one (which is not often), the floors and walls are almost always dirty and I am too afraid to even use the washrooms! I don't even sit on public toilet seats! Posted by: jez | Feb 22, 07 12:00 AM

What I saw in this episode is not as shocking as I thought it would be. A lot of kids work at these places and they simply don't have their parents there to tell them to do simple things, like wash their hands. A large number of adults don't wash their hands properly after using the toilet either. Hygiene is a life skill, learned in childhood. I was a manager for a public swimming pool, a position that carries many of the same responsibilities for public safety. I was not prepared to be a daddy for the staff! The managers of these food venues are probably feeling the same way. Posted by: Martin Matyas | Feb 22, 07 12:13 AM

A vote of thanks to CBC, and public health inspectors, for this one. There used to be a Coffee Time near me at Carlton and Parliament in Toronto. (The property has been redeveloped recently into a trendier restaurant.) Turns out a nearby location, at Parliament and Winchester, was among those pegged in your program. With so many better coffee emporiums within walking distance, and across the city, I am relieved never to have been a loyal customer of Coffee Time. Since SARS in 2003, my sensitivity to hand washing ratcheted up a few notches. I continue to treat all publicly-touched surfaces with careful suspicion. Coffee Time’s abysmal self-defense was shocking. And I thank our public health inspectors who, unfortunately, can’t be everywhere at once. Posted by: Kenn Chaplin | Feb 22, 07 02:16 AM

As a Starbucks Barista, it's a program like this that makes me proud of the standards my store and company adhere to. Everything you see, use, and could potentially touch in a Starbucks store is either sanitized or wiped down with sanitizer every 24 hours. Whatever is not in use on a daily basis, or is simply too minute to take care of (such as cupboard doors, trash bins, corner of the back room) is assigned to be cleaned weekly by someone with a dedicated 4 hour cleaning shift. It's fairly abhorrent to see conditions like those that exist at Coffee Time and makes me really appreciate why health standards are so specific -- and why I was my hands before ever coming close to making someone's drink. Posted by: James W. | Feb 22, 07 04:40 AM

I once had a chocolate dip donut from a major coffee chain and there was a piece of onion in it. I never went back. Posted by: DD | Feb 22, 07 08:44 AM

Dear Erika, While I understand the reasoning behind your line of questioning with the VP of Coffee Time, I must admit I found your style repetitious and ultimately boring. You went over the same ground again and again, even using the same phrasing for the questions, without giving the man time to answer or explain. Not only did I find myself wondering about Coffee Time, I eventually found myself asking, "would I listen to an interviewer who can't move a show forward?" "would I listen to an interviewer who repeats herself" "would I listen to an interviewer who. . . " I'm sure you get the picture. Eventually, I felt sorry for the VP which I'm confident was not your goal. Posted by: Lynda S | Feb 22, 07 08:47 AM

Public health inspection reports for all food premises are considered public property and are available for anyone who asks. Just because these records are not available on the internet does not mean that they cannot be accessed. The time and expense required to set up a disclosure system usually falls far outside the budget of most health units, but they are there for the asking. And if for whatever reason you cannot get a record for a certain establishment from the health unit, ask to see the food establishment's most recent inspection records at the establishment itself. If they refuse or fail to provide one, don't give them your business. Foodhandler training is not mandatory by law. If you think it should be, write your MP and let your thoughts be known. One must acquire a license to drive a vehicle, but absolutely no previous experience/education/training or anything of the sort is required for those who make the foods that go into our bodies. Regarding the show ... it was sensationalized, and I think that too much attention was given to one company. Perhaps it was warranted, but the others were let off the hook far too easily. Posted by: Jim | Feb 22, 07 09:15 AM

The show last night trouble's brewing was well done. I do have a problem with the health inspector. I work at a large grocery chain in the deli department. When you entre my department, HAIR NET AND WASHING OF YOUR HANDS A MUST before anything even begins to happen. Not once did you see a hair net on anyone in the show. HEALTH INSPECTOR, INTERVIEWER, NO ONE. The health inspector was moving garbage cans and it wasn't evident whether she washed her hands before probing the food for her temps. This is totally unacceptable. If we do not follow this simple rules we are penalized but the inspectors can get away with this. I have watched both the shows on health inspectors and I feel if you are doing shows like this follow the rules. Thank you. Posted by: debbie s | Feb 22, 07 09:32 AM

the coffee is great at timmys in guelph but one has to be vigilant. I never use a drive thru as u never know what has happened to your order. Posted by: douglas odoherty | Feb 22, 07 09:55 AM

I agree they are dirty. A few are fine, coffee is definatly not consistent. One time very strong next week, depending on the store. Posted by: Lisa | Feb 22, 07 10:11 AM

No surprises here. I stopped going to Coffee Time a long, long time ago because of how filthy they are. Thanks for making this public knowledge. Perhaps the health dept. could have a bit more teeth when dealing with this kind of issue and just shut them down. Al Z. Posted by: Al Z | Feb 22, 07 10:33 AM

Wasroom conditions tell everything about how they run their entire business. Posted by: TAL ATKINSON | Feb 22, 07 10:57 AM

Speaking as a former food service manager, I suspect that the sanitation issues uncovered at Coffee Time exist in many, many food service operations across the country. I can only think that a well-planned quality assurance program, enforced by head office, would improve this situation. Posted by: Mike Hussey | Feb 22, 07 11:13 AM

I am find that Marketplace is becoming a show that the sky is falling on every issue. No soulutions alot of fear. Last nights was a prime example you seem to show that eating at coffee time was going to make you sick. Food posioning can happen from anywhere from the fast food store to the most expensive restaurant. When inspectors check in on restaurants they should close them down if health codes are not at the acceptable level. No warnings but shut downs. I find it ironic that you had a show about unhealthy hosipitals and Doctor's not cleaning their hands but expect a person working in a fast food restaurant with a lot less education and a lot less money to be more caring than a doctor. I'd be questioning the health department as much as the store. We're paying the health department to watch out for our safety. People are not stupid, if a place looks unclean they usually don't eat there and tell their friends. The business will not be open to long. Posted by: Bill | Feb 22, 07 12:01 PM

I'm sure sloppiness is the norm in fast food especially at the pace that's required at these places. I was at a coffee shop when a worker knocked off the bagel knife to the floor. Another finished what she was doing, picked up the knife and waited for another worker to move to go elsewhere, then put the knife back on the table. I was only surprised since this was lunchtime in front of a line of customers waiting for their food. Apparently no one else noticed. And yes, I ate my clean sandwich because in general I figure the food is more unhealthy than the odd chance of contamination. Posted by: alex | Feb 22, 07 12:42 PM

Only for this reason I have stopped eating at buffet restaurants. As I was in the washroom I noticed a person walking straigt from the can without washing his hands to serve himself! I was disgusted! Buffet restaurants must make their customers was their hands before serving themself. The notice "all employees must wash hands before returning to work" must be replaced by "All persons must wash their hands with warm water and soap after using the washroom". Or do you know what that hand did before touching that pot of sugar or serving spoon? Posted by: Joe Brown | Feb 22, 07 12:55 PM

It was great to see Erica touring the coffee shops of Calgary - all of which I frequent. I was releived and not suprised that my favourite Second Cup, and the lady who owns it had a perfect score. Congratulations! Thank you, Marketplace, for bringing up the very important fact that coffee shops should be, but often are not, treating their food the way a restaurant should. Posted by: Signe Spence | Feb 22, 07 01:09 PM

Thank you for an entertaining and informative show. And thank you Erica for not letting that VP from Coffee Time off the hook. It's unacceptable what's going on at that chain - way to hold people responsible! Posted by: Jonathan Lewis | Feb 22, 07 01:45 PM

In India, big huge bread factories hire men to prepare dough, and they have no choice, but to use their bare feet to do so. I am sure you will say that is INDIA..... Posted by: Katy Panthakee | Feb 22, 07 01:49 PM

I saw the show last night. I would have bet my paycheck that Coffee Time would rank the lowest on the list. They are absolutely filthy. I sometimes wish I were a food inspector. I would shut the whole chain down until they get their act together. I frequent Tim Horton's and although they weren't #1 on the list I will continue to buy my coffee from them. One thing I would change in food establishments is to have a totally enclosed cabinet for the fat fritters. I often see flies buzzing around during the warmer weather months. I would also change the format so that those handling money don't handle the coffee and treats. If these establishments are going to sell food we need to get tougher. The number of people getting sick each year from improperly handled food is staggering. Any way, great show, keep up the awesome work. Posted by: Mark | Feb 22, 07 02:13 PM

This episode should have been called "how to destroy a business". They kept on attacking Coffee Time but seemed quite inclined to avoid the problems at Tim Horton's. When the graph was displayed for violations Tim Horton was a close second but they didn't explore the problems their. This is a deliberate attempt to promote one chain and destroy another. Shame on cbc, Canada's station, for trying to destroy a canadian business. Posted by: Dimitri Floros | Feb 22, 07 02:30 PM

I would like to see a show with dirty public washrooms and why they are not cleaned propely, no door locks, no warm or hot water, etc. I have been to gas stations and some restaurants and they are so nasty dirty you do not want to go in. more on the dirty restaurants would be another show, what about grocery stores, hamburger places, they would be interesting to. thanks, why not a 1 hour show 30min to short. Posted by: mike | Feb 22, 07 02:36 PM

I watched with interest and horror your expose of coffee shops. However, in defence, the name is not the criteria people should pick their favourite coffee shop by. Here in Mildmay, and I suspect, other small communities, where the local Coffee Time is a small owner operated business, we get good and clean service. I also strongly suggest that if you are concerned about the service or cleanliness of your local coffee shop, you tell the owner/manager and hopefully they will rectify the problem before it comes to national TV. Thank you for an inciteful program -- Ruth Posted by: Ruth Hirtenfeld | Feb 22, 07 02:50 PM

If you are among the many that wake up and leave the house with only one thought, stop for your morning coffee fix before work, you are most likely half asleep and either don't care or are not looking to see if the person waiting on you has washed there hands before serving you. This report has most likely opened a few eyes for now, but guess what. Tomorrow you will wake up just as tired and be thinking of only one thing, your morning coffee fix. Posted by: Pearl Williamson | Feb 22, 07 02:55 PM

Your story was well done and rather frightening. I'm not sure I want to eat out anywhere anymore: given the high prevalence of health inspection failures overall (let alone at the abysmal CoffeeTime), and the high incidence of food poisoning that you mention, it's safer and a lot cheaper to make your own. Why can't inspection-deficiency information be publicized? Why can't good inspections earn a sign in the window that tells us that news? Nothing like a little publicity to shake up these people who run these disgusting shops. One little nitpicky point: I was disappointed to hear the mention (twice!) of food being "four times warmer" than it should be. There is no absolute scale of warmth and cold as there is in length, for instance, so the concept of four times warmer is simply absurd. If it's 0 degrees here, what temperature where you are could ever be "four times warmer"? Keep up the good work. Posted by: DLP | Feb 22, 07 03:05 PM

I always check DineSafe before going to an establishment. I noticed long ago that the problems with Coffee Time were systemic. My only wish is that City of Toronto inspectors closed repeat offenders. I see places that get a Conditional Pass regularly or in some cases twice IN A ROW. In my book that's contemptuous behaviour. If they refuse to learn their lesson then they should learn it the hard way. Protecting the public should always come first. Posted by: Cheryl H | Feb 22, 07 03:07 PM

Thank you Market Place and Erica for the show last night regarding the health conditions of coffee shops. Is there a website in BC that the public can go to, to check on the level of cleanliness at a local coffee shop? I notice the lack of washing hands quite often in coffee shops, and I often speak up to the staff about it. Some are happy for the reminder... others aren't too happy with me, unfortunately. But it is better to be safe than sorry. Washing hands is soooooo important! After reading a few of the comments from some viewers... I am shocked that they would diss your interview. You only have to be sick from the poor handling of food once to make you wary the next time... guaranteed! Great job Erica.... the man from Coffee Time wouldn't take responsibility and shouldn't be let off the hook. Hopefully he will do something about the coffee shops after this embarrassment. It would be interesting to do a follow-up show in a few more months to see if there has been significant changes. thanks again Erica! Annie :) Posted by: Annie | Feb 22, 07 03:37 PM

I think its disgusting. This happens everywhere not only in Coffee Time shops. Why arent the health inspectors shutting down these stores. Since when are we alloud to be given a second chance when it comes to the safety of our citizens. Heres a bit of advice STAY HOME AND EAT!!! Posted by: BIG BOY | Feb 22, 07 03:57 PM

When comparing chains, I cant see the difference between 40 times out of 100 and 78 times out of 100. Are you telling us that all chains have violations. And if so, why did you single out the only single out Coffee Time and not any other companies. Posted by: Ted Vavouleas | Feb 22, 07 04:20 PM

I ate at a a major chain coffee shop back in 2004/5ish in winnipeg and was very sick, the kind of purging that i did i would not wish on anyone. Since then, i have never ever eaten or drank anything from that chain, They have NO IDEA of how bad it is. Posted by: M. Gratwell | Feb 22, 07 04:23 PM

Could you imagine what the environmental cost would be to the planet if every restaurant on the planet followed these guidelines... There'd be 17 trillion pairs of latex gloves in landfills... When people make their own lunches at home, do they put on latex gloves??? It's like the handwashing recommendations... let the hot water run... soap and scrun for 2 minutes while the water runs... turn off with a paper towel... handle doors knobs with a paper towel... again... imagine if everyone on the planet did this after they went pee... it's just not reasonable... it's not sustainable... Let's just become a little more resistant to those nasty little by not being so damn clean all the time! vvv Posted by: Vince Velocci | Feb 22, 07 05:45 PM

I work at a Coffee Time in Elmvale Ontario and we always get good remarks for how clean the store is and for the product. NOT ALL COFFEE TIMES ARE LIKE THE ONES MENTIONED IN THE STORY! I would like to invite everyone to visit this store then maybe the opinions that people have of Coffee Time will be CHANGED! SO ONCE AGAIN THAT IS ELMVALE 30 MIN NORTH OF BARRIE AND 1 1/2 NORTH OF TORONTO..come see for YOURSELF! Posted by: Kelly Brandon | Feb 22, 07 06:41 PM

I work at a Coffee Time and I would like to tell you that not all Coffee Times are like that! I feel that this report will effect all Coffee Times even the stores that are well maintained! I think it depends on who the franchisee is....My boss is an absolute CLEAN FREAK! Please do not judge based on that report..COME AND VISIT US IN ELMVALE I'M SURE YOU'LL BE SURPRISED....MOST PEOPLE FROM TORONTO ARE! Posted by: Barbara | Feb 22, 07 07:22 PM

I stopped in at a major chain coffee shop to get a quick bite to eat on a workday. By late afternoon/early evening I was feeling so ill and in pain a family member had to come and pick me up and take me to the emergency room. The experience was bad enough that I'll never go back. I should have trusted my instincts when I noticed the place wasn't that clean or inviting. Posted by: Laura | Feb 22, 07 07:27 PM

I am the manager of Coffee Time in Elmvale and watching that report was absolutely disgusting! I cannot belive how people would actually let their stores look like that! We are always receiving compliments on how clean our store is as well as good customer service and good product. It is a shame that a couple of stores had to put a bad name for all stores. I can expect that we will have a decrease in sales because of this...except those that have been in to see for themselves! Posted by: Donna | Feb 22, 07 07:30 PM

Missed your programme but would like to mention the colour black used by C/Time & T/Hort. in their plastic cups (inside). The colour masks everything they put in to them and makes me squeemish at the drive thru. Won't be going to C/Time anymore. Al R. Posted by: Allan Ralley | Feb 22, 07 07:42 PM

I thought it was very un fair to pick on just one chain. I have had many bad experiences at many big name chains. Once I had a rotten cream cheese (on a bagel) at the largest coffee chain shop, just recently, I had to ask employees at a very well known Mexican food chain (in very big mall food court) how come none of you are wearing a gloves? And I refused to buy their food. I am very regular at a few Coffee Time locations and am very happy with the over all service and value one get there. I found their baked products are freshly made unlike frozen stuff at some of the largest coffee chains. Despite your one sided report, I would still love to take my kids to our regular Coffee Time locations. Yes, I would never go to a dirty food establishment regardless of the name at the gate. It was very unfair to show hidden camera footage from one Coffee Time location (where a employee was cleaning the teeth) there must be hundreds of CoffeeTime locations what were you trying to proof with one incident? Put a hidden camera in any kitchen, may it be a hospital, Time Horton or MacDonald, you will find some very un hygienic acts by the employees. You are a journalist and we expect a better judgment in reporting from you Posted by: Arshad | Feb 22, 07 07:45 PM

I worked for Bell Canada as a repair tech for many years in the west end of Toronto, and became familiar with many coffee shops. Usually, just getting a take out coffee (not at a drive through window, actually going in the shop)was enough to get an idea of the overall cleanliness. When I heard a promo for the Marketplace story on CBC radio, I blurted out "Coffee Time will be the worst" and of course, it followed that I was right. You just couldn't help feel the standards were lower at Coffee Time than any other chain. Having said that, I still like their coffee, even if I won't eat there! Posted by: rory hawes | Feb 22, 07 08:16 PM

Dear Erica, I would like to thank you for your insight on the coffee time story. It kinda makes ya think about not only coffee chains, but fast food chains right across the board, and even bigger than that, the true importance (and responsibility we all should take) of washing our hands often. Oh the spread of many a nasty bug we could avoid. I'm Proud to say that here in Miramichi New Brunswick, I can pick up my daily fix of "TIMMY'S" with the confidence that some of the the hardest working women in the country can pride themselves on running a pretty clean ship. Thanks Again Allan Girouard Miramichi,N.B. Posted by: Allan Girouard | Feb 22, 07 09:10 PM

in los angeles and maybe all of california all restaurants must display the resullts of the health inspections. the restaurants are graded (like 1 to 5) so anyone can tell how clean the place is. sounds like a great idea for us. Posted by: bruce | Feb 22, 07 09:28 PM

All I can say to consumers is: "if it looks like nobody's cleaning, that's probably because nobody's been cleaning so leave and eat somewhere else!" Many chains and bosses are well known for having demanding INTERNAL inspection and training standards, and that is one spot that this report glossed over: what should be done to ensure safe food handling and how to get it done. Given the right training, hiring standards, regular internal inspection and so on we can indeed have safer food handling in Canada. Because I have found most food service people aren't against doing things properly, they just don't know how to. The companies can provide and ensure the prevention. By the time Health units are involved it's trying to cure an existing problem. Posted by: Richard Deschene | Feb 22, 07 10:17 PM

since you did such a fine job on the subject of cleanliness at coffee shops, here is something else that i think bears looking into. i wonder if other canadians are as overwhelmed by all the flyers we receive each day in our mailboxes. now the post office is dropping off dozens of them every week with our mail. most people i know simply move them from the mailbox to either the garbage can or to their recycling bin. in this time of ecological awareness, i think that such a waste of paper is shameful. Posted by: Joan | Feb 22, 07 10:39 PM

Thank you Erica for the information you supplied us with, on Market place last night. It was very informative but not surprising! However I don’t think you should single out “Coffee Time” as the only violator. I have been in a number of another “major chain” of coffee/donut shops across Canada where I found the washrooms in many unfit for humans to use (dirty and unsanitary). I was in another… where I saw the owner caring a tray full of donuts, to the front customer display shelves when he slipped and the donuts fell to the floor. He quickly picked up all the donuts, placed them back on the tray and then re-stocked (with these dirty donuts) the front customer display shelves, as if nothing had happened. I walked out! And that VP…he should be fired for not accepting the “responsibility” for the company’s inability, to have previous Coffee Time franchisee violators clean up their act. Posted by: wfm | Feb 22, 07 10:56 PM

Poor report. the point was made early and then repeated. What were the violations at the other places mentioned or was it quilt by innuendo? the interviewer was hostile and seemed to take the whole thing personally. Posted by: Craig Posner | Feb 22, 07 11:52 PM

It does not surprise me that Coffee Time is so bad. I have been to a Coffee Time only a few times and they are dirty! I know many coffee shops, have improvised and came up with luncheon menus, and even dinner, without being equipped for handling food. Posted by: Richard G. Racette | Feb 23, 07 02:54 AM

What a great program! I've always known CoffeeTime to be disgusting dirty, however, when you have to travel via car from Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay you are left with no alternatives. How about doing an investigation on some of the "northern Ontario" coffee shops. I'm sure the results will be worse than you have encountered in your program. Keep up the good work. Posted by: LJS | Feb 23, 07 02:27 PM

Quite an Eye-Opening show Erica. What I'd like to see is a follow -up episode, when these places are re-inspected. Posted by: Anonymous | Feb 23, 07 08:25 PM

Try Williams Coffee Pub. Not sure how far their chain extends but in the Kitchener Waterloo area it is my choice with very good service and cleanliness plus it is Canadian owned. Posted by: Steve Daley | Feb 24, 07 08:29 AM

As a worker at a Coffee Time in Elmvale i must say that not all are that bad. I am sure that there are some of the other chains that are equally as bad, but for some reason, they seem to pick on that 1 coffee shop. Please don,t let this report stop u from coming into our store,as we all work very hard at keeping it clean. Posted by: Allyson Reid | Feb 24, 07 11:53 AM

I manage one of the Tim Hortons in Ontario and noticed that the health inspector in this report wasn't wearing a hairnet or washed her hands. The secret to Tim Hortons is that we get unannounced visits from our district managers to do food safety audits and follow ups if necessary. They do wear hairnets and wash their hands before putting on gloves to do their audits. They set very high standards and so do I. Very proud. Truly a leader in the industry. Posted by: Rebecca S. | Feb 24, 07 07:17 PM

I've passed my 'three-score years and ten', spent my childhood playing in the dirt and my early twenties on the road surveying but never had a problem related to food. I'm not saying that the problems you relate do not exist but wonder if resistance might have been built up if the generations after mine had not relied so much on antiseptics? Posted by: CharlesC | Feb 24, 07 08:12 PM

Regardless of whether a patron is a middle class soccer mom grabbing a decaf latte at Starbucks or a homeless person ducking out of the cold at Coffee Time, all customers at major food and beverage outlets should enjoy their purchases in a clean, sanitary environment staffed by trained workers. Your marketplace report was a sobering reminder that health and safety often takes second place to commerce at any cost. I hope your report was a wake up call not only to Coffee Time, but its more gentrified competition. Posted by: Lee Hill | Feb 25, 07 04:05 PM

I have been a manager in several different food places for 20 years and would like to say that although these places have been singled out, imagine what happens in the places where you can not see them make your food. Some of us really do care about the saftey of our customers. To bad the entire chain gets looked down upon because of a few bad apples. Posted by: AJ | Feb 25, 07 10:09 PM

Excellent story as are most of your pieces. I frequent a Coffee Time in my neighbourhood and I have never witnessed a problem. I do check the bi-annual report that is published by the Region of Durham on their website for resturant violations and I have not seen any violations by my local Coffee Time. In the report for July 1 to Dec 31 06 only 2 operators had violations, which seems hard to believe, or the operators are getting the message or the region is under staffed. When I lived in the United States a local tv station would show the highest and lowest food inspections for the week and all resturants must display their scores which are rated out of a 100 points. I hope that this issue is resolved and I hope that our law makers can make channges to the current system to protect people. Most of the people that own these establishments should never own a resturant. Posted by: Chris Jennings | Feb 26, 07 04:28 PM

i live in williams lake bc. the only fast food place i go into is macdonalds. they are always cleaning the store.some of the other places are so dirty they should be shut down tks jim Posted by: jim clydesdale | Feb 26, 07 08:42 PM

Regarding comments on the health inspector "not wearing a hair net". There is no provincial legislation that requires a person to wear a hair net. The requirement is that the hair be controlled. This inspector tied her hair back as oppose to leaving it down and therefore her hair was under control. Regarding handwashing, most health inspectors do wash their hands at the start of an inspection as good practice. However they do not touch or handle any food except food that is being thrown out due to problems. This show was interesting....the public deserves to see stuff like this. Posted by: Blair | Feb 26, 07 09:46 PM

As other poster pointed out earlier, there are often flies flying around/on donuts/muffins in coffee shops in the summer, so isn't that is a violation of food safety? I believe that some flies could spread diseases. I hope that the food safety agency would advice Tim Hortons (and may be other coffee shops that do not cover their food) to start covering their donuts/muffins. Posted by: f | Feb 27, 07 07:24 PM

Not all coffee places are perfect. A friend worked at a major chain coffee shop and told me many horror stories of finding green slime on the sandwich meat and being told to just wipe it off or scrape it, turn it over so the customer doesnt see it. The creme cheese having green fur and the metal containers not being sanitized every night before closing. Mice and rats in the back. Although, Last summer when i went for my usual coffee at the drive thru of a major chain coffee shop.. the biggest RAT i've ever seen ran across from the dumpster to the grass. It was so big at first I thought it was a ground hog til I saw the tail.. All places have dirt but the rodents we can do without and the hair in the cream cheese just ruins the whole day. Posted by: Patricia | Feb 28, 07 06:32 PM

I did not see this episode but have enjoyed reading the comments from others. I live in Regina and this morning on my coffee break, I went to our downtown mall and noticed a small fly hovering over the baked goods at one of the coffee shops. This is the second time in about 2 months this has happened and I didn't think too much about it, but I fully intend on pointing this out next time. Sanitary conditions should be priority at all times! I was wrong to be so silent!!! Posted by: LuLu | Feb 28, 07 09:26 PM

Thank you for such an informative program! One serious problem --though rare-- is workers spitting in food of customers they dislike. Also, some workers, usually inexperienced and low payed, come to work to play rather than work! One coffee house in a chain mentioned in the report, even had employees using foul language when dealing with customers. When I was in university a decade ago, I worked in two food establishments. One was pretty well maintained, but fruit flies buzzing around the kitchen was a problem. The other kitchen was a nightmare --flies, mold, unhygienic staff etc.. Being very young, I, like other workers was scared to speak to the health inspector. I am pleased to say that this establishment closed. Posted by: al | Mar 1, 07 01:14 AM

I have just been going through looking at the diner reports on coffee shops and there wasn't one coffee time on any of the sites where do you get your information from. Posted by: Barb | Mar 1, 07 12:11 PM

I am friends with someone who used to work at a major chain coffee shop in St. Catharines. It has since closed but I recall her telling me that sometimes for "fun", she and the other workers used to spit on the muffins. In the coffee and once she had used the water from cleaning the floor to make coffee with. Posted by: Leslie | Mar 1, 07 05:23 PM

Shame on you for picking on one specific frachise. How can you honestly lump all the Coffee Time locations together. There is no way of knowing there isn't a Tim Horton's out there that is just as bad. How would one know if they don't gladly open their stores to you. I been in a franchise owned and operated by Coffee Time and it was very clean, but will you take the time to investigate very location to see that a small few might be cosidered dirty. But overall they are clean and well managed. I would visit a Coffee Time location over any other store anytime. After all a few bad comments and flies should not be preseved as the norm. Flies can't read so I highly doubt there skipping by the local Tim Horton's heading straight for Coffee Time, come on that is just riculous!!!! Posted by: shannon | Mar 1, 07 06:36 PM

Are we drinking our coffee, or coughing up our drink? Was Starbucks ashamed of their appearance that they hid from the public? Posted by: Ted Burrell | Mar 2, 07 07:44 PM

Your report was not fair to all the Coffee Time establishments that are extremely clean and have passed every inspection. Posted by: G.Davies | Mar 2, 07 11:57 PM

Another awesome program by the ladies! I am a germaphobe of the highest degree because I see how disgusting people can be when working with food. I use to work in a nice restaurant in Vancouver where one of my colleauges use to eat off of the plates of people who did not finish their meals. Seriously! There are some very unsanitary people out there and it is very disturbing but the best thing I can do is call people on it who are are not up to my standards and I have done it before. I will not hesitate to either walk out of a place that I feel is unhealthy or talk to someone in charge. Posted by: Michael | Mar 5, 07 03:18 AM

I am not a great fan of Coffee Time. Have only been to them 2 or three times in my lifetime and your report just proves what I've been telling everyone for years. PAY ATTENTION. These people handle and care for your food. CHEAP isn't necessarily better. If they're keeping their prices LOWER than everyone else it's usually because they're cutting costs in other places. A fair price with little or no risks is much better than a low price with a high risk. Investors, Economists and Scientists all know this. If you see people serving you food in a manner you would not do at home to your family or friends then stay away from that place. Don't put yur life at risk to save a few cents. Posted by: Davy | Mar 5, 07 12:08 PM

Acceptable food safety practices is everyone's rsponsibility. In the food retail and foodservice industries employee practices are critical in the prevention of foodborns illness. Want to learn more........visit www.suretygroup.net for details. Posted by: Steve Burns | Mar 5, 07 02:33 PM

I agree with many of the writers above who mentioned that it was unfair to pick on one establishment. Why didn't they interview the V.P. of Tim Horton's along side. That report may of made people aware of dirty places but it also has put a bad name on ONE CHAIN not all of them. If you noticed. Tim Hortons was the second in line. Weren't we taught in school that we should pick on someone our own size? I did feel for the V.P. of Coffee Time as I know what it is like in this day and age to find good people to work at establishments like that. Ones that follow the rules, not only when you are there but also when your not there to supervise them. You guys should of just focused on the issue that there are establisments out there that keep getting violations rather then just focus on one chain. CBC was being a bully. Posted by: Jennifer | Mar 6, 07 09:45 PM

Thank you, CBC, for this great investigative report. I'd like to share what I wrote for my blog Wednesday, August 30th, 2006: "The Server Sneezed" I am in Montreal helping my sons set up for school. We got into town at 1 am and, after bringing the bags into the apartment, we head over to the nearest coffee shop. It seems that, like Toronto, Montreal has a coffee shop on every corner. I am amazed at how many people order a regular coffee at this time of night. We are next in line when the worst thing happens. The server sneezes into her hand and continues to serve the customer. Problem for me! Problem for my son who tells me that if I don’t like it we should just leave, because he is already anticipating being embarrassed by what he sees as me “complaining”. My turn. I ask the server, as diplomatically and nicely as I can, if she would please wash her hands before serving me because she sneezed - repeating it twice, because she doesn’t seem to understand. She says yes, but rings up my order, takes my money and hands me back change (yick!), then grabs a cup. I ask her again to please wash her hands. She goes to the sink, turns on the tap, runs her hands under the water without using soap, and with dripping, wet hands, serves us! I give up. This happened at one of the big 4 coffee chains in the heart of the student ghetto at McGill. In the interest of public health: WASH YOUR HANDS! Cold & Flu season is around the corner! Posted by: Marilyn Freedman | Mar 9, 07 09:31 PM

In response to Mary Anne Secord's post: I was in the washroom at Pearson last time I flew to Europe, and an employee of the restaurant, which had its back door at the washroom entrance, used the washroom, and didn't wash her hands before going back to work. I went immediately and complained to the manager of the place, and she treated me like some hallucinating imbicile. I even saw the name of the employee on her hame tag, and reported specifically to the manager which employee I'd seen, and she still didn't take me seriously. Please check them out next time you're in the neighbourhood. Posted by: Erica Reichel | Mar 11, 07 06:21 AM

I think restaurants can get away with alot, the health inspector isn't there every day. I went into a small burger joint in Winnipeg, when the guy brought our food he accidentaly dropped the small container of coleslaw upside down onto the table. After dragging it to the edge of the table in order to flip it over, he then asked me " do you want another one?". Needless to say I have never returned there. Posted by: lisa | Mar 13, 07 01:37 AM

Good expose. However, it is interesting the comments of viewers that seem to think they would have less exposure to food borne illness at home whereas I believe statistics would support otherwise. "Fight Bac" (canadian site) is a great resource for proper food handling, storage and preparation in the home. Posted by: Judy | Mar 17, 07 09:03 PM

What a great show, being an educator in Culinary Arts this show will be a great learning tool. It shows that the health inspectors do an awesome job and that they are also human. It is quite simple, obey the laws and they will work with you. Disobey and you are in big trouble. The industry under estimates the power that the health inspectors have. They are basisally food cops, and these establishments have been busted. Great show, Christopher Coombs Winnipeg Posted by: christopher coombs | Apr 19, 07 09:38 PM