A Richmond hotpot and BBQ restaurant was ordered to close after a routine health inspection revealed unsanitary conditions, including rodent and insect activity.
Claypot Hotpot & BBQ on Alexandra Road received the closure order from Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) on Tuesday, Aug. 29, after the inspector found eight "critical infractions."
According to the VCH inspection report, food was not protected from contamination and potentially hazardous food was neither thawed properly nor refrigerated at a safe temperature.
It also failed to maintain the premises in a sanitary condition, handwashing stations were not properly supplied and maintained, its wiping cloths were not clean, and its mechanical dishwasher or glasswasher was not enough to remove contamination from dishes, according to the report.
The inspection also revealed five non-critical infractions including the failure to maintain employee hygiene, failure to operate in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications, and the failure to maintain temperature records and follow procedures in the sanitation plan.
Moreover, the operator and food handlers did not take a certified food safety training course.
The restaurant reopened on Aug. 30 after a follow-up inspection, but three critical infractions and five non-critical infractions remain.
The three outstanding critical infractions include having signs of insect activity, failing to supply and maintain handwashing stations and failing to keep potentially hazardous food refrigerated at a safe temperature.
Claypot has been found with critical infractions including insect infestation and unsanitary premises in the past, but according to online records, this is the first time it was shut down by VCH.
