Rats force closure of Princeton bakery

Interior Health inspectors believe it was flooding that drove rodents into a Princeton bakery.

The flooding was eventually repaired, but inspectors found rats and droppings in the basement, including within the freezer, at Thomasina's bakery, also known as Knead Some Dough Bakery.

The health authority ordered the bakery to close last month, citing multiple health hazards, according to its public notice. Interior Health lists owner Thomasina Murdock as its contact.

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iNFOnews.ca reached out to the bakery, but did not receive a response.

It was inspected on Sept. 21, when Interior Health employees gave specific instructions to deal with its "active rat infestation." Interior Health also ordered all surfaces in the restaurant, both upstairs and downstairs, be cleaned and sanitized everyday before it reopens.

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Seven days after the inspection, the health authority ordered the bakery to close until the rats are ousted and the bakery sanitized, which remains in force.

Although health inspectors believe it was a flood that drove the rats into the bakery's basement, it's not clear when it occurred. It may have been related to the 2021 November floods, which put parts of the town under water, including the area near the river confluence where Knead Some Bread is located.

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