BIG H SHAWARMA AND POUTINE
2450 LANCASTER ROAD OTTAWA ON K1B 5N3 · Food Safety
Inspection summary
BIG H SHAWARMA AND POUTINE has been inspected 7 times by Ottawa Public Health since February 12, 2024. The most recent inspection, on January 30, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.
1 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, 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 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.
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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on January 30, 2026. For example:
Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
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 January 30, 2026. For example:
The equipment used for refrigeration or hot-holding of potentially hazardous foods contains accurate indicating thermometers that can be easily read.
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 2 times on January 7, 2025. For example:
Multi-service utensils shall be cleaned and sanitized after each use.
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 once on June 4, 2025. For example:
All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
Food safety training and certificationLower risk
Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.
Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on January 7, 2025. For example:
Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
About this data
These results come from Ottawa 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.
7 inspections
- Required
3 infractions
- Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
- The hand washing stations must be used only for the hand washing of employees.
- The equipment used for refrigeration or hot-holding of potentially hazardous foods contains accurate indicating thermometers that can be easily read.
- Provide refrigeration units with accurate indicating thermometers that may be easily read.
- Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.
- Keep potentially hazardous foods at an internal temperature of 60°C or higher.
- Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
- Follow-up
0 infractions
- Required
1 infraction
- Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
- Provide an adequate number of hand washing stations that are maintained and kept adequately supplied and that are situated for convenient access by food handlers.
- Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
- Required
1 infraction
- All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
- Protect all food from contamination and adulteration.
- All food shall be protected from contamination and adulteration.
- Required
3 infractions
- Multi-service utensils shall be cleaned and sanitized after each use.
- The single service containers and single-service articles must be kept in such a manner and place as to prevent contamination of containers or articles.
- The surfaces of equipment and facilities other than utensils that come in direct contact with food are cleaned and sanitized as often as necessary to maintain such surfaces in a sanitary condition.
- Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
- Multi-service utensils shall be cleaned and sanitized after each use.
- Follow-up inspection
1 infraction
- Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
- Operator must ensure that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training.
- Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
- Routine inspection
3 infractions
- Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.
- Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
- Operator must ensure that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training.
- Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
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