African Breese Specialty Foods
3654 W 4th Ave, Vancouver BC V6R 1P1 · Retail Food Store
Inspection summary
African Breese Specialty Foods has been inspected 11 times by Vancouver Coastal Health since December 13, 2016. The most recent inspection, on July 6, 2026, found no infractions.
5 of 11 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Cleaning and sanitizing and Pests.
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.
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 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 3, 2017. For example:
Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not contaminated.
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 9, 2026. For example:
All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
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 June 9, 2026. For example:
The premises is free of pests.
Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk
Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 23, 2024. For example:
Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 3, 2017. For example:
Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
About this data
These results come from Vancouver Coastal Health, 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.
11 inspections
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
3 infractions
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Sanitizing solution is not present or at an improper concentration.
- Operator of a food premises has developed, maintained, and followed approved written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur.
- Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
- The premises is free of pests.
- Premises has signs of rodent activity.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
4 infractions
- All food on the premises is obtained from an approved source.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Hot and cold running water is not supplied in quantity and pressure to meet the needs of the premises.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Routine
1 infraction
- An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
2 infractions
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Routine
0 infractions
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine Follow-up
5 infractions
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not contaminated.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- Each employee washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- An operator of a food premises must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- The premises is free of pests.
- Routine
5 infractions
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not contaminated.
- Food is not protected from contamination during transportation, display, storage or preparation.
- Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not stored or displayed at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius or below.
- An accurate thermometer is not provided.
- Each employee washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- An operator of a food premises must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
- The premises is free of pests.
- Conditions on premises may lead to harbouring/breeding of pests.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not contaminated.
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