541 Eatery and Exchange

Inspection summary

541 Eatery and Exchange has been inspected 11 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since March 21, 2022. The most recent inspection, on July 9, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

4 of 11 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 5 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, Cleaning and sanitizing and Protecting food from contamination.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

• PestsHigher risk

  Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

  Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 9, 2026. For example: Food premise is protected against the entry and harbouring of pests

• Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

  Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

  Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on June 5, 2025. For example: Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed

• Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

  This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

  Recorded 2 times on May 31, 2024. For example: Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

• Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk

  Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.

  Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 31, 2024. For example: Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation

• Food temperature controlHigher risk

  Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

  Recorded once on May 31, 2024. For example: Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained

About this data

These results come from City of Hamilton Public Health Services, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

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