Farm Boy store in midtown Toronto temporarily closed after failing DineSafe inspection

The Farm Boy location received a red card from Toronto Public Health for four infractions.

A busy grocery store near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue is temporarily closed following a failed DineSafe inspection.

According to Farm Boy’s website, its midtown Toronto location, at 2149 Yonge St. at Soudan Avenue, is closed today and tomorrow, but is expected to reopen on Wednesday at 8 a.m.

City of Toronto’s DineSafe web site indicates that the store was last inspected on Sept. 8 and subsequently order to shut down after inspectors observed “one or more crucial infractions ... under the Food Premises Regulation that present an immediate health hazard that cannot be corrected during an inspection.”

The Farm Boy store received a red card for four infractions, two of which are deemed “crucial,” for food premise maintained in manner permitting health hazard (rodents) and for failing to protect food from contamination or adulteration.

It was also handed a “significant infraction” for failing to protect against harbouring of pests, and a “minor” one for food premise not being maintained with food handling room in sanitary condition.

In a statement, Toronto Public Health (TPH) said that it is “committed to ensuring the health and safety of the public by conducting regular inspections of all food establishments in the city through the DineSafe program.”

The health unit confirmed to CP24 that following a recent inspection, that midtown Farm Boy location was issued a “Notice of Closure.”

“This action was taken due to a violation of the Ontario Food Premises Regulation that presented an immediate health hazard, involving a rodent infestation without an effective method of pest control, along with a minor infraction on safe food handling,” TPH wrote.

Public health said this notice requires the store to close to the public immediately and stay closed until “all health hazards are corrected.”

“(We) work closely with the owner and operator to ensure that the identified issues are fully resolved,” it said, noting that the Farm Boy store will be allowed to reopen after it has addressed all violations and a follow-up inspection confirms it is in full compliance with all health and safety regulations.

The inspection results of all food establishments in Toronto can be viewed on the DineSafe website.

Farm Boy, meanwhile, said it is “committed to upholding the highest standards of food safety and cleanliness.”

“Following a public health order, our Yonge and Soudan location at 2149 Yonge St., Toronto, is temporarily closed. We take this matter very seriously and are taking immediate action, including a full sanitation of the store and a comprehensive review by our pest control management company,” spokesperson Aaron Wade wrote.

“We are working closely with public health officials to ensure all requirements are met and will share updates on reopening as soon as they are available. We remain dedicated to providing a safe and clean shopping environment for our customers and apologize for any inconvenience or concern this may cause.”

Shoppers share thoughts on closure, their experiences

Several people who live in the area and shop at this Farm Boy location have taken to social media to express their shock at the store’s sudden and unexpected closure and share their experiences.

Some said they’ve seen rodents inside the store on occasion, which they said may be due to several ongoing construction projects in the immediate area.

Sheila Matano, who lives nearby, told CP24 that she shops frequently at that Farm Boy location and was surprised to see its doors locked and shutters drawn when she tried stopping by this afternoon to pick up a few items.

“I could see the employees in there cleaning up,” she said.

Matano said she’s never seen any pests inside the store but has seen some rat droppings in its rice area.

She said she’s disappointed that the company hasn’t sent out an email informing customers of the situation and the efforts being made to rectify it, adding that would help “restore confidence.”

Matano noted that she’s a long-time customer who enjoys shopping at Farm Boy, especially in the fresh meat and fish departments, and is looking forward to the midtown Toronto location reopening with a “clean record.”

The Farm Boy store at 2149 Yonge St. was previously inspected on July 7, 2025 and passed, with inspectors noting that “no infractions were observed under the Food Premises Regulation.”

It did, however, previously receive a yellow conditional pass in May, April, and February. In all of those instances, the store was handed the significant infraction of “fail to protect against harbouring of pests.”