Food Safety Inspections

Food safety is a mandatory program for Ontario’s public health units under the Ontario Public Health Standards. The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit works to prevent and reduce foodborne illness in the community

What do Public Health Inspectors do?

Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) in Haldimand and Norfolk counties routinely visit food premises to:

• conduct routine inspections
• do re-inspections; and
• follow-up on complaints and suspected foodborne illnesses.

The premises visited include restaurants, grocery stores, school cafeterias, farmers’ markets, chip trucks, hospital kitchens, retirement and long-term care homes, and child care centre kitchens.

What happens during a public health inspection?

PHIs ensure food premises are in compliance with O.Reg.493/17:Food Premise under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. During an inspection, PHIs will look at:

• food storage temperatures, hot and cold
• cooking, reheating and cooling times and temperatures of food
• personal hygiene of employees, including good hand hygiene
• food production methods and procedures
• the flow of food through receiving, storage, preparation, and service
• dish and equipment washing and sanitizing procedures
• food sources
• pest control
• methods of garbage collection, holding and disposal
• cleanliness of floors, walls, ceilings, equipment and other surfaces
• if staff hold a Food Handler Training Certificate.

Annual risk assessments are completed at every food premises in Haldimand and Norfolk Counties. During the risk assessment, PHIs consider:

• the types of food sold
• how food is prepared
• the population served
• the compliance record of the food premise
• the premise’s history regarding foodborne illnesses
• food safety knowledge and training of food handlers
• if the premise has a food safety management plan.

The risk assessment will determine if the establishment is high, moderate or low risk. The number of routine inspections a premise receives each year is based on this risk rating:

• a high-risk premise will be inspected once every four months
• a moderate-risk premise will be inspected once every six months
• a low-risk premise, like a convenience store, will be inspected once every 12 months
• a superlow-risk premise will be inspected once every two years.

Copies of inspection reports are available from the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit. Please complete the following form to submit your request.

Related Resources

• Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7
• O.Reg. 493/17: FOOD PREMISES
• Food Safety in Childcare Premises

Request an Inspection Report

Note: Requests will be processed within 3-5 business days. For further inquiries, please contact the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit’s Environmental Health Team by email: [email protected].