Food Premises Inspections

Under the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Ontario Public Health Standards, food premises and restaurants are routinely assessed for risk. Unannounced inspections are conducted by certified Public Health Inspectors employed by the Regional Municipality of York.

The frequency that food premises and restaurants are inspected is based on their risk level. High risk premises are inspected once every four months, medium risk premises once every six months and low risk once every 12 months.

High Risk include premises that prepare hazardous foods for a high risk population based on age or medical condition (i.e. nursing homes, hospitals, child care centres) or use processes involving many preparation steps and foods implicated as cause of food-borne illness (i.e. full menu restaurants, banquet and catering operations).

Medium Risk include premises, that prepare hazardous foods without meeting the criteria for high risk (i.e. fast food restaurants, submarine and pizza shops) or prepare non-hazardous foods, which are subject to extensive handling or are prepared in high volume (i.e. bakeries).

Low Risk include premises that do not prepare hazardous foods, may serve pre-packaged hazardous foods, are a food storage facility, or where public health concerns relate primarily to sanitation and maintenance (i.e. convenience stores, refreshment stands, cocktail bars).

Restaurant business owners and staff are reminded that York Region Public Health Inspectors who conduct food premises inspections carry two pieces of identification. The first is the Regional employee security card which verifies the inspector's employment with York Region. The second is the provincial offences officer badge which verifies the inspector's credentials as a current provincial offences officer in the province of Ontario.

In 2009, 12,315 food premises inspections were conducted in York Region.

Food Premises Disclosure System

Starting in Fall 2011, The Regional Municipality of York introduces YorkSafe, an enhanced food inspection reporting program. York Safe will make inspection reports more easily accessible to the public. YorkSafe will encourage food establishments to post Proof of Public Health Inspection signs in the front of their establishments while inspection reports conducted by Public Health Inspectors will be available on a the new YorkSafe website. For more information on YorkSafe, please visit www.york.ca/yorksafe

Prior to the launch of the website in the Fall 2011, the public can contact the York Region Health Connection line to obtain information about the latest inspection report for a food premises. A weekly list of food premises that have been issued tickets or closures is also made available to the public and the media. To view the most recent report visit Public Health and Safety - What's New.

Food Safety Resources

To contact a Public Health Inspector, call York Region Health Connection at: 1-800-361-5653, TTY 1-866-252-9933.