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AROMA A MEXICO

254 LOCKE ST S, HAMILTON ON L8P 4B9 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

AROMA A MEXICO has been inspected 6 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since September 29, 2025. The most recent inspection, on September 30, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.

2 of 6 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 5 inspections with 23 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food temperature control.

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 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 19, 2026. For example: Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

  • 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 May 19, 2026. For example: Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed

  • 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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 19, 2026. For example: Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained

  • 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 19, 2026. For example: Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation

  • 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 once on February 2, 2026. For example: Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

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.

6 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • The premises is operated and maintained free from potential/immediate health hazards
      • Maintain premise free from conditions that may, be a health hazard, adversely affecting the sanitary operation of the premises
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
      • Ensure certified food handler or supervisor is present during all hours of operation
  2. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Routine Inspection

    8 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
      • Ensure food contact equipment and utensils are free from cracks, crevices and open seams
      • Ensure ventilation system/exhaust hood/filters/canopy is maintained in a clean and sanitary manner
    • Ventilation is maintained to ensure the elimination of odours, fumes, vapours, smoke, or excessive heat
      • Ventilation system requires thorough cleaning
    • Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
      • Store toxic/poisonous substances in container bearing identifying labels
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
      • Equip sanitary facility with single service towels or air dryer
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Cover all food in storage
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
      • Provide easily readable thermometer in refrigeration or hot-holding equipment
  4. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
      • Ensure equipment, utensils, and multi-service articles are suitable for intended purposes (food-grade)
  5. Routine Inspection

    11 infractions

    • The premises is operated and maintained free from potential/immediate health hazards
      • Maintain premise free from conditions that may, be a health hazard, adversely affecting the sanitary operation of the premises
    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
      • Ensure equipment, utensils, and multi-service articles are suitable for intended purposes (food-grade)
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Change sanitizing solution for wiping cloths at a minimum of every 2 hours, or as often as necessary, to maintain the solution clean and sanitary at all times
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
      • Keep cloths clean, in good repair, and restricted to a single task
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
    • Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
      • Store toxic/poisonous substances in container bearing identifying labels
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
      • Maintain sanitary facility clean and in good repair
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
      • Store raw foods separate and below cooked / ready-to-eat foods
    • Hot holding: minimum of 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
      • Ensure food is held above 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
      • Ensure certified food handler or supervisor is present during all hours of operation
  6. Routine Inspection

    0 infractions

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