Inspection of retail food stores

In Canada, responsibility for food safety is shared between the federal government and provincial health units or provincial departments.

Depending on where you live, concerns or complaints about issues like dirty stores, sightings of mice or insects, bad food handling practices or the actions of store staff are handled by local health or authorities or designated provincial departments.

Alberta

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of Alberta Health Services

British Columbia

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of regional health authorities.

Manitoba

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of the Manitoba Health Food Safety Program

New Brunswick

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (Public Health)

Newfoundland and Labrador

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of Service NL – Environmental Health

Northwest Territories

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of Health and Social Services

Nova Scotia

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture – Food Protection and Enforcement Division

Nunavut

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of: Health and Social Services

Ontario

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of local health authorities.

Algoma (Cities of Sault Ste Marie, Elliot Lake, towns of Blind River, Bruce Mines, Spanish, Thessalon and the Municipality of Huron Shores)

Brant County (Communities of Burford and Harley, Glen Morris, Mt. Pleasant, Onondaga and Middleport, Paris, St. George, Scotland and Oakland)

Chatham-Kent (City of Chatham-Kent, towns of Wallaceburg, Tilbury, Blenheim, Ridgetown, Wheatley and Dresden)

Durham Region (Cities of Oshawa, Pickering, towns of Ajax, Whitby)

Eastern Ontario (City of Cornwall, City of Clarence-Rockland, counties of Prescott-Russell, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry)

Grey Bruce (County of Grey and Bruce County)

Haldimand-Norfolk (Haldimand County and Norfolk County)

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District (City of Kawartha Lakes, Town of Cobourg, counties of Haliburton, Northumberland)

Halton Region (City of Burlington and towns of Oakville, Halton Hills, Milton)

Hamilton

Hastings and Prince Edward Counties (Cities of Belleville, Quinte West and the counties of Hastings, Prince Edward)

Huron Perth County

Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington (City of Kingston, Town of Greater Napanee, counties of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington)

Lambton County

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District (City of Brockville, towns of Carleton Place, Gananoque, Mississippi Mills, Perth Prescott, Smith Falls, counties of Lanark. Leeds and Grenville)

Middlesex-London (County of Middlesex and City of London)

Niagara Region (Cities of Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, St. Catharines, Thorold, Welland, the towns of Fort Erie, Gimsby, Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Pelham)

North Bay Parry Sound (City of North Bay, Town of Mattawa, municipalities of Temagami, West Nipissing)

Northwestern Health (Cities of Dryden, Kenora, municipalities of Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, towns of Fort Frances Rainy River)

  • Contact information for registering a complaint about a facility in the Northwestern area
    • Phone: 807-468-3147
    • Toll-free: 1-800-830-5978

Ottawa

Region of Peel (Cities of Brampton, Mississauga and the Town of Caledon)

Porcupine Health Unit (Algoma District, Cochrane District, Town of Hornepayne, City of Timmins)

  • Contact information for registering a complaint about a facility in the Porcupine Health Unit
    • Phone: 705-267-1181

Renfrew County and District

Simcoe Muskoka (County of Simcoe and the towns of Bracebridge, Gravenhurst)

Southwestern Ontario (County of Elgin, Oxford and the City of St. Thomas)

Sudbury and Districts

Timiskaming (City of Temiskaming Shores, towns of Cobalt, Englehart, Kirkland Lake, Latchford, municipalities of Charlton and Dack, Temagami)

Thunder Bay District (City of Thunder Bay, towns of Marathon, Greenstone, Manitouwadge, Red Rock, Terrace Bay)

Toronto

Region of Waterloo (Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo)

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (Counties of Wellington and Dufferin and the City of Guelph)

Windsor-Essex County

York Region (City of Vaughan, the towns of Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Whitchurch-Stouffville)

Prince Edward Island

Restaurant and food service inspections are carried out by the Department of Health and Wellness, Office of Environmental Health.

Quebec

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (in French only)

Saskatchewan

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of the regional health authorities.

Yukon

The inspection of retail stores for cleanliness and proper food handling is the responsibility of: Health and Social Services – Environmental Health.

The CFIA's role

At the retail level of trade, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency protects consumers from economic fraud and product misrepresentation, and assists them in making informed product choices. The CFIA's role in the retail sector also results in fair competition for industry. If you suspect food misrepresentation or fraud, report your concern to the CFIA.

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