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BAO SANDWICH BAR

#B106-62 BALSAM ST, WATERLOO ON N2L 3H2 · Facility

Official record from Waterloo Region →

Inspection summary

BAO SANDWICH BAR has been inspected 8 times by Region of Waterloo Public Health since December 4, 2024. The most recent inspection, on September 16, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

1 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 10 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Food temperature control and Cleaning and sanitizing.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their findings differently, so we group them by what they mean for your health. 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 and supplies are stored and handled: kept covered, off the floor, and away from anything that could contaminate them. Where food is served, raw meat must be kept away from ready-to-eat food, a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded 8 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on May 8, 2026. For example: Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Inspectors check that anything that has to be kept at a set temperature, such as chilled or hot food, or equipment like sterilizers, stays in its safe range and that accurate thermometers are on hand. With food, temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning.

    Recorded 7 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on May 8, 2026. For example: Hot holding: minimum of 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Surfaces, dishes and tools that touch food or people must be cleaned and then sanitized or disinfected. Inspectors check sanitizer strength, dishwasher temperatures and how cleaning is done. Poor sanitizing lets germs survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on September 16, 2026. For example: Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be clean and in good repair, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate health risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on November 18, 2025. For example: Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Many jurisdictions require a trained or certified person on site, such as a certified food handler. These findings mean the training record or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean anything was handled unsafely.

    Recorded once on July 2, 2025. For example: Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils do so in a sanitary manner

About this data

These results come from Region of Waterloo Public 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.

8 inspections

  1. Compliance Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
  2. Compliance Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 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
    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure floors, walls, and ceilings are tight, smooth, and non-absorbent
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
  3. Compliance Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Thaw all hazardous foods maintaining a temperature of 4°C (40°F) or less
    • 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
    • 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 and maintained
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
  4. Compliance Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 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
    • 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 ceilings are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure floors, walls, and ceilings are tight, smooth, and non-absorbent
    • 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
  5. Compliance Inspection

    6 infractions

    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
      • Cover all food in storage
    • 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 floors, walls, and ceilings are tight, smooth, and non-absorbent
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed and maintained
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
      • Ensure ventilation system/exhaust hood/filters/canopy is maintained in a clean and sanitary manner
    • Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils do so in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure food handlers wash hands as often as necessary
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
  6. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  7. Compliance Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
      • Cover all food in storage
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Adjust or repair the refrigeration unit immediately. Do not store any hazardous foods in the unit until it is able to maintain hazardous foods at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4°C (40°F) or less
    • 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 ceilings are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure floors, walls, and ceilings are tight, smooth, and non-absorbent
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed and maintained
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
      • Ensure ventilation system/exhaust hood/filters/canopy is maintained in a clean and sanitary manner
  8. Compliance Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Store food off the floor to prevent contamination
    • 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
      • Preheat the hot holding unit to at least 60°C (140°F) before placing hot foods inside of the hot holding unit
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
      • Ensure hot water sanitizer is at 82°C or greater for at least 10 seconds
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed and maintained
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are of sound and tight construction

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