A Food Ratings Program consists of a scoring system that grades the results of a food premise inspection. These scores are then made available to the public through on-site posting and on the web.

The goal of the program is to reduce the rate of foodborne illness in the community and improve food safety standards.

Health Canada estimates that 11 -13 million cases of food-related illnesses occur each year.The medical costs and productivity losses from foodborne illness in Canada are estimated at over $1 billion annually. Many of these cases are caused by foods from retails food premises.

According to the Health Protection and Promotion Act (1990) a food premises is defined as: any food premise where food or milk is manufactured, processed, prepared, stored, handled, displayed, distributed, transported, sold or offered for sale, but does not include a private residence. This includes:

• restaurants
• food take-outs or fast food places
• hospital kitchens
• long-term care facilities
• day cares
• mobile food vendors
• convenience stores
• grocery stores

The purpose of food safety inspections are:

• To reduce the rate of foodborne illness from food premises.
• To monitor and evaluate staff handling, preparing, and serving food at food premises to ensure they comply with safe food handling practices and basic sanitation requirements as set out by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
• To improve the skills of people working in the food industry by providing training courses.
• To promote self-monitoring of food premises by operators and staff well trained in HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) principles.

If you eat at a restaurant or purchase food from a food premise in Windsor-Essex County (e.g., restaurant, grocery store, convenience store etc.) and you have concerns about the food you were served or the cleanliness of the premise, you can call us at 519-258-2146 ext. 1473 and file a complaint.

If you or someone else in your party became ill after eating, call the us at 519-258-2146 ext. 1473.

For medical advice, speak with a doctor or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.

Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) are employed by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit to enforce the requirements of the Health Protection and Promotion Act and its associated regulations. Health inspectors have a broad range of duties they are required to:

• Inspect food premises to ensure they are in compliance with regulations.
• Inspect public pools, wading pools and spas to protect the health and safety of the patrons.
• Inspect day-care centres and long-term care facilities.
• Investigate animal bites and scratches to humans, to control the transmission of rabies.
• Ensure that corrective action is taken whenever the water from any regulated water system is found to be unsafe and that a safe alternative source of water is provided to affected residents. Communicate the risk to consumers in a timely fashion so that they are not exposed to a drinking water health hazard.
• Investigate complaints of potential health hazards and ensure the resolution of any issues, which could adversely affect the health of the public.
• Monitor water quality at designated beaches.
• Provide information and education on a wide range of environmental and public health issues both proactively and in response to a defined issue.

All PHIs in Canada are required to hold the Certificate in Public Health Inspection, which is granted by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors, once all of the required certification criteria has been satisfactorily fulfilled.