Food Safety

Planning to prepare and sell food to the public? Notify Public Health Sudbury & Districts before operating your business.

Public health inspectors play an important role in ensuring the safety of food that is sold and distributed through food premises. They do this by conducting inspections of public eating establishments on a routine and complaint basis.

Any facility or location where food is prepared, stored, or served to the general public is considered a food premises. These include:

• restaurants
• grocery stores
• bakeries
• butcher shops
• catering facilities
• take-outs
• street food vending carts
• temporary food stalls at special events

Public health inspectors pay particular attention to ensuring that food is protected from possible contamination by chemicals or microorganisms, and that adequate temperature controls are in place during the heating, cooling, and storage of hazardous foods. The general sanitary and physical condition of the premises is also evaluated.

Planning to open a food premises?

Anyone wishing to prepare and sell food to the public must notify Public Health Sudbury & Districts in writing prior to the operation of their business. The Starter Kit: A Guide to Opening and Operating A Food Premises (PDF < 1 MB) provides a list of requirements that must be followed. A public health inspector is available to provide additional information regarding these requirements.

Inspections and enforcement

Public health inspectors act on behalf of Public Health Sudbury & Districts to address non-compliance with food safety legislation. In order to address issues of non-compliance, they may collaborate with other agencies where appropriate; will consider existing, repeat, and multiple infractions of legislation; and will carry-out enforcement actions pursuant to the Health Protection and Promotion Act. Enforcement actions may include issuing fines and/or issuing orders. All convictions and orders are available online for viewing.

Complaint investigations

Public health inspectors receive and respond to reports of food safety issues 24 hours a day, 7 days a week related to:

• suspected and confirmed reports of foodborne illnesses or outbreaks
• unsafe food-handling practices, food recalls, adulteration, and consumer complaints
• food-related issues arising from floods, fires, power outages, or other situations that may affect food safety

Have a complaint or inquiry? You can submit your question or complaint online or contact us.

Community education

Public health inspectors provide general food safety information and educational materials to assist in the safe preparation and handling of food. Channels include:

• food handler training and certification program
• farmers markets and community special events
• day nurseries, school nutrition programs and community food programs
• educators of food-related subjects
• general public

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This item was last modified on November 12, 2024