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Hearthstone Inn Dartmouth

313 PRINCE ALBERT, DARTMOUTH · Food Establishment

Official record from Nova Scotia →

Inspection summary

Hearthstone Inn Dartmouth has been inspected 9 times by Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (Food Safety Program) since November 5, 2024. The most recent inspection, on December 11, 2025, found no infractions.

3 of 9 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Chemicals and toxic substances and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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.

  • 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 9 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on November 25, 2025. 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;

  • 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on October 9, 2025. For example: 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following: (c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;

  • 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 March 31, 2025. 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;

  • 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 March 31, 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;

  • 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 once on March 31, 2025. 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.

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.

9 inspections

  1. Inspection

    0 infractions

  2. Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 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;
      • Iodine sanitizer at glassware washer in bar and chlorine sanitizer in the kitchen dishwasher are empty. Replenish sanitizers immediately. Manually sanitize glasses and dishes using the three-compartment sink method until replenished.
  3. Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 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;
      • Iodine sanitizer at glassware washer in bar and chlorine sanitizer in the kitchen dishwasher are empty. Replenish sanitizers immediately. Manually sanitize glasses and dishes using the three-compartment sink method until replenished.
  4. Inspection

    0 infractions

  5. Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:  (c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
      • In accordance with Section 2.3 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must ensure walls and ceilings are constructed of finishes which are smooth, impermeable, and washable.
    • 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.
    • 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;
      • Iodine sanitizer at glassware washer in bar and chlorine sanitizer in the kitchen dishwasher are empty. Replenish sanitizers immediately. Manually sanitize glasses and dishes using the three-compartment sink method until replenished.
  6. Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:  (c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
      • Remove golf tees from bar, use a material that is smooth, non-absorbent and easily cleanable.
    • 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:  (c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
      • Remove carpet from the back storage area.
    • 82(1) No person shall operate a food establishment, unless exempted by an administrator, without first having obtained a permit from an administrator.
      • Renew food permit.
  7. Inspection

    0 infractions

  8. Inspection

    7 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;
      • Hand sink in the kitchen must have a paper towel dispenser.
    • 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;
      • Observed old food debris build-up on fry cutter. Ensure fry cutter is cleaned and sanitized between each use.
    • 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.
      • In accordance with Section 6.3.3 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must provide verification of completion of a valid, recognized food hygiene course to the Department.
    • 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;
      • Iodine sanitizer and detergent containers at glassware washer in bar was empty. Detergent and sanitizer were replaced during inspection.
    • 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;
      • Clean and sanitize dirt build up on floors underneath equipment and shelves throughout the kitchen and hallway. Clean and sanitize mold build up on interior surfaces of the bar glasswasher.
    • 29(2)(d) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done: (d) all waste streams in and surrounding the food establishment are managed.
      • Observed a pot of moldy grease underneath sink. Ensure liquid waste is stored correctly and disposed of in a timely manner.
    • 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.
  9. Inspection

    5 infractions

    • 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:  (c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
      • Observed damaged cutting board that was no longer smooth and easily cleanable. Cutting board was discarded during inspection.
    • 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;
      • Hand sink was not equipped with paper towel. Paper towel was restocked during inspection.
    • 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;
      • Iodine sanitizer container at glassware washer in bar was empty. Sanitizer was replaced during inspection.
    • 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;
      • Observed old food debris build-up on fry cutter. Ensure fry cutter is cleaned and sanitized between each use.
    • 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;
      • A few rodent droppings observed under shelving unit beside standing cooler in kitchen. Ensure all areas affected by rodent droppings are cleaned and disinfected.

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