TORONTO — A recent health warning out of Toronto should serve as a reminder to all restaurant employees and owners across the county of the required vigilance when it comes to food safety.

Toronto Public Health has identified a case of Hepatitis A at a Wendy's restaurant at 438 Nugget Avenue in Scarborough, Ont. Anyone who consumed food prepared at said restaurant between July 26 and Aug. 6 may have been exposed to the Hepatitis A virus, although risk of infection is very low.

Patrons who ate at the restaurant on any of the indicated dates should watch for signs of illness and contact their health-care provider if they experience any of the following: fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, dark urine or a yellowing of the skin (jaundice). Symptoms can develop up to 50 days after exposure.

TORONTO — Deep-fried chocolate and bananas may sound indulgent, but that’s nothing compared to the new buzz food at Toronto’s annual fair, The Ex, this year — deep-fried butter.

A gaggle of journalists were invited to the Canadian National Exhibition recently to sample the nosh in this year’s food building at The Ex, and now Vicky Skinkle’s butter balls are the talk of the town. The indulgent treats are made with butter combined with secret ingredients, dipped in funnel cake batter, fried for 20 seconds and served with a drizzle of raspberry, chocolate, caramel or vanilla and icing sugar.

TORONTO — Pizza Pizza’s new cheesy garlic bread has been launched in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, and customers from the test cities can get in on the action by naming the new creation.

“The new product is really tasty,” says Pat Finelli, chief marketing officer for Pizza Pizza. “The Pizza Pizza team always appreciates the feedback we receive. That’s why we are asking our customers to submit creative and cheesy names for their chance at bragging rights while enjoying the taste test and brainstorming with friends.”  

MONTREAL — MTY Food Group Inc., through MTY Tiki Ming Enterprises Inc., has entered into an agreement to buy all of shares of the 95-unit Groupe Valentine Inc., for $9.3 million in a transaction scheduled to close in September.

The acquisition of the quick-service chain, which sells hotdogs, fries and hamburgers, will include seven real-estate properties, including Valentine's head office and an 8,300-square-feet distribution centre.