A viral video of a Pizza Hut location in Ajax storing food containers in the restroom prompted a subsequent investigation by the Durham Region Health Department.
The footage, posted earlier this week on TikTok, showed pizza boxes, plastic containers and other supplies stacked on a shelf next to an uncovered toilet.
The restaurant is located near the intersection of Rossland Road and Carter Bennett Drive.
The woman who recorded the video said she had gone to use the washroom before ordering when she noticed the containers.
True North reached out to the Durham Region Health Department and was told that after an investigation by authorities, the issue had been rectified.
“This issue had been raised to our Department last week and an investigation was conducted by public health inspectors. The premises had already corrected the issue”
The health authority made clear that the business would continue operating without penalty since “education was provided and a subsequent compliance check showed that the premises were still complying with the applicable legislation.”
By the time health inspectors arrived, the items had already been removed and the washroom had been cleaned.
Pizza Hut Canada responded to the original post, stating it was looking into the matter.
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” the company said. “We take this seriously, as it doesn’t reflect our standards. We’re working quickly to resolve the issue.”
The Durham Region Health Department confirmed that storing food containers in the washroom violates Ontario’s food safety rules.
Under Regulation 493, section 7(1)(h), single-use food items must be stored to avoid any risk of contamination.
“Storing these items in the washroom can pose a contamination risk,” the department said in a Friday email. “This is in contravention of Regulation 493.”