Over the past week, some provinces have started to lift restrictions and move forward with plans to open up the restaurant industry. In BC, indoor dining is now allowed and restaurants are working to recover as our Quebec restaurateurs. The latter are also facing challenges in terms of staffing and supplies, making it clear that the road to recovery is not an easy one.
A recent in-depth article in The Globe and Mail also ponders if we have been using too much sanitizer to sterilize anything and everything throughout the pandemic. It's time for "hygiene theatre" to come to an end.
Here are five stories you might have missed in food news this week.
Restaurants raising funds for India's fight against COVID-19
Indian restaurants around the world are coming together for the 1 Billion Breaths campaign, offering pre-set takeout meals with proceeds going to provide oxygen tanks for people in India suffering from COVID-19. In Canada, there are several restaurants in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver participating in the campaign.
Read more at NOW Toronto.
Indoor dining resumes in B.C and Quebec
After two months of closure to reduce the spread of COVID-19, restaurants in BC are now allowed to resume indoor dining service. As case numbers drop and restrictions are slowly lifted, restaurant capacity will increase and the industry will start moving forward towards a more normal summer.
Visit CTV Vancouver for the full story.
Quebec restaurants face a shortage of staff and supplies
The ongoing effects of the pandemic have left restaurants in Quebec with a shortage of staff and supplies, with many chefs leaving their jobs and culinary school enrolment decreasing. A new study explores the impacts of the pandemic and proposes ideas to help the industry bounce back.
Learn more at CTV Montreal.
Sanitizing your groceries might be unnecessary
Are you still wiping down your groceries?
Wiping down your grocery items might seem like the right choice, but experts are saying that some sanitation processes–like this one–give people a false sense of security without actually reducing the possibility of virus transmission. The environmental and economical impacts of over-cleaning might mean it's time to reevaluate our sanitation procedures.
Learn more in this article by The Globe and Mail.
Rare white bison calf born on Siksika nation
A rare white bison was born on a Siksika nation ranch near Calgary this month, resulting in a flood of well-wishes, visitors, and offerings in honour of the calf. The bison is a sacred animal in Indigenous culture, and a white bison is especially significant as a sign of hope and good fortune.
The calf has been named Kōna Ko'komíki'somma, or Snow Moon.
Read the CBC News story.
