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Harv's Diner

82 MAIN, YARMOUTH · Food Establishment

Official record from Nova Scotia →

Inspection summary

Harv's Diner has been inspected 5 times by Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (Food Safety Program) since November 1, 2023. The most recent inspection, on April 8, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

2 of 5 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: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene 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.

  • 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 April 8, 2026. For example: 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done: (a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;

  • 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 April 8, 2026. For example: 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator: (b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;

  • 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 April 8, 2026. For example: 33(1) An operator must ensure that the temperature of food is controlled so that the food does not deteriorate or become inedible or unsafe.

  • 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 across 2 separate inspections, most recently on September 2, 2025. For example: 23(1)(a) All equipment and utensils used to process, prepare, store, serve, sell or display food must be designed, constructed, installed and maintained to (a) protect food from 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 once on September 2, 2025. For example: 19(1)(e) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following: (e) that there is effective protection to prevent the access and sheltering of insects, rodents and other pests.

About this data

These results come from Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (Food Safety Program), 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.

5 inspections

  1. Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator: (b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
      • In accordance with Section 2.14 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must ensure the food preparation area hand washing station is only used for handwashing.
    • 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done: (a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
      • In accordance with Section 4.2.8 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must ensure that dishes are sanitized by immersion in sanitizer solution (such as chlorine at 100-200ppm) for at least 2minutes after washing and rinsing. In accordance with Section 4.2.5 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must sanitize food contact surfaces such as counters at a frequency to prevent cross-contamination. Ensure that you have sanitizer solution prepared and ready to use at all times during operation.
    • 33(1) An operator must ensure that the temperature of food is controlled so that the food does not deteriorate or become inedible or unsafe.
      • In accordance with Section 3.3.2 of the Nova Scotia Food Services and Food Retail Code, you must thaw foods appropriately: in the fridge at 4C or colder, under cold running water, in the microwave, or as part of a validated cooking procedure. In accordance with Section 3.3.6 of the Nova Scotia Food Services and Food Retail Code, you must cool foods from 60 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius within 2 hours, and then from 20 degrees Celsius to 4 degrees Celsius or below within 4 hours. Ensure you portion large volumes of food to cool as rapidly as possible and reduce the time spent at unsafe temperatures.
  2. Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Inspection

    5 infractions

    • 19(1)(e) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following: (e) that there is effective protection to prevent the access and sheltering of insects, rodents and other pests.
      • In accordance with Section 2.17 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must ensure exterior openings are protected against the entry of pests. Back screen door should be closed all time to prevent entry of pests.
    • 23(1)(a) All equipment and utensils used to process, prepare, store, serve, sell or display food must be designed, constructed, installed and maintained to (a) protect food from contamination;
      • In accordance with Section 2.9 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must: store all food and food items a minimum of 15 cm (6 in.) off the floor on racks, shelves or pallets; store all food and food items a minimum of 5 cm (2 in.) from the walls. Sacks of potatoes and bags of flour were stored on the floor, foods should be stored off the ground.
    • 28(2) If an operator is absent from a food establishment, the operator must ensure that a member of the personnel who has successfully completed a food hygiene training program is present.
      • Ensure that at least one person has the food safety training.
    • 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done: (a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
      • In accordance with Section 4.2.2 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must ensure non-food contact surfaces of equipment must be cleaned at a frequency that will prevent the accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue and other debris. Cleaning needed in following areas but not limited to : ventilation canopy, under/ around the cooking line.
    • 33(2) The operator must ensure that all refrigeration and heat-holding equipment has a temperature measuring device that is accurate and in good repair.
      • In accordance with Section 4.1.11 of the Nova Scotia Food Services and Food Retail Code, you must: have a functioning thermometer(s) on all heating and cooling equipment; and calibrate all thermometers routinely and maintain calibration logs. Ensure that refrigerators have thermometers inside the units and maintain daily temperature logs.
  4. Inspection

    0 infractions

  5. Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 19(2)(b) A food establishment must provide all of the following in accordance with applicable legislation or as considered acceptable by the Administrator: (b) adequately designed and appropriately located hand-washing facilities;
      • Ensure handwashing station is used for handwashing only.
    • 29(2)(a) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done: (a) the food establishment and equipment are maintained, cleaned and sanitized;
      • In accordance with Section 4.2.2 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must ensure non-food contact surfaces of equipment must be cleaned at a frequency that will prevent the accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue and other debris. Cleaning required in the following areas but not limited to: the ventilation canopy and the surrounding ceiling and fan.
    • 48(1) An operator must ensure that all food is stored and transported under conditions that do all of the following: a) protect the food from contamination, b) provide an environment that adequately controls contamination, c) protect the food from damage likely to make the food inedible.
      • Raw beef observed to be stored over raw fish and ready to eat foods. Ensure fridge contents are stored in accordance with their internal cooking temperatures. Items like produce or foods which don't require cooking must be stored above any raw protein. Raw protein then must be stored in accordance with their internal cooking temperatures.

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