Kujira Sushi & Grill - Restaurant
5006 50 Street Whitecourt AB T7S 2A1 · Food - General
Inspection summary
Kujira Sushi & Grill - Restaurant has been inspected 9 times by Alberta Health Services (Environmental Public Health) since February 14, 2024. The most recent inspection, on September 22, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.
4 of 9 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing and Pests.
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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 20, 2025. For example:
Are there adequate and properly operating dish washing facilities to effectively clean and sanitize equipment and utensils (unless noted elsewhere)(Critical)?
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 November 5, 2024. For example:
Is the facility free of unapproved animals, vermin and/or insects (unless noted elsewhere), and maintained to prevent the entry or harbourage of pests?
Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk
Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.
Recorded 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on September 22, 2026. For example:
Is the facility maintained in a clean and sanitary condition?
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 once on September 22, 2026. For example:
Do food handlers ensure that food is protected from contamination (unless noted elsewhere)(Critical)?
Permits, records and postingLower risk
Operating permits, required signage, written procedures and logs. These findings are administrative: the documentation was missing or out of date at the time of inspection.
Recorded once on November 5, 2024. For example:
Does the facility have a valid permit and does the facility operate in compliance with the conditions of that permit, or is the facility awaiting approval prior to operation?
About this data
These results come from Alberta Health Services (Environmental 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.
9 inspections
- Monitoring Inspection
2 infractions
- 07. Do food handlers ensure that food is protected from contamination (unless noted elsewhere)(Critical)?
- 1) Raw meat in a metal container was observed stored above vegetables. Operator moved the raw meat to a lower shelf and the vegetables above it.Going forward, please ensure all raw meat/poultry/seafood products are stored on lower shelves to reduce the potential for cross-contamination between raw animal products and vegetables which may not be cooked before serving.
- 23. Is the facility maintained in a clean and sanitary condition?
- 1) Food debris including oil were observed under cooking equipment. Please clean the area under and beside equipment to remove the grease and food residue. Please also clean the area under the stand-up fridge in the back area (near dishwasher)
- 07. Do food handlers ensure that food is protected from contamination (unless noted elsewhere)(Critical)?
- Monitoring Inspection
0 infractions
- Monitoring Inspection
0 infractions
- Risk Management Inspection
1 infraction
- 21. Is the facility properly constructed and maintained in a state of good repair to allow for the safe and sanitary handling of food?
- There is damaged ceiling tiles present in the cafe area from a roof leak.Operator stated landlord has seen it and will repair the roof in spring/summer. Please ensure roof is repaired as soon as possible and damaged ceiling tiles are replaced. Water must not be allowed to drop on food.
- 21. Is the facility properly constructed and maintained in a state of good repair to allow for the safe and sanitary handling of food?
- Monitoring Inspection
2 infractions
- 11. Are there adequate and properly operating dish washing facilities to effectively clean and sanitize equipment and utensils (unless noted elsewhere)(Critical)?
- The dishwasher was not pumping chlorine at time of inspection.Please replace the sanitizer bucket with new chlorine and prime the line. If this does not work, please manually add chlorine during each sanitizer cycle until the machine is fixed.
- 21. Is the facility properly constructed and maintained in a state of good repair to allow for the safe and sanitary handling of food?
- There is damaged ceiling tiles present in the cafe area from a roof leak.Operator stated landlord has seen it and will repair the roof in spring/summer. Please ensure roof is repaired as soon as possible and damaged ceiling tiles are replaced. Water must not be allowed to drop on food.
- 11. Are there adequate and properly operating dish washing facilities to effectively clean and sanitize equipment and utensils (unless noted elsewhere)(Critical)?
- Risk Management Inspection
1 infraction
- 21. Is the facility properly constructed and maintained in a state of good repair to allow for the safe and sanitary handling of food?
- -When testing the dishwasher, the water from the dishwasher drainage system leaked unto the floor.Water should not be allowed to leak unto the floor in a food establishment. If it does, it should be wiped off immediately.Please fix the leak as soon as possible and always keep the dishwasher floor area dry at all times.- At the time of inspection, oil buildup was observed in the exhaust hood in the kitchen.Although the service date is not yet due, please arrange for the maintenance/ servicing of this hood.Also, always wipe this oil off the exhaust hood so they do not drip into food.
- 21. Is the facility properly constructed and maintained in a state of good repair to allow for the safe and sanitary handling of food?
- Monitoring Inspection
6 infractions
- 04. Does the operator use approved methods for cleaning and sanitizing equipment, utensils, and surfaces?
- Many unclean cleaning cloths was observed to be lying on counter tops in various areas of the kitchen.Please when cleaning cloths are not in use, they should always be kept in a sanitizing solution inside the sanitizing bucket.
- 11. Are there adequate and properly operating dish washing facilities to effectively clean and sanitize equipment and utensils (unless noted elsewhere)(Critical)?
- -The sanitizing component of the dishwasher is not functioning properly. Adequate sanitizing of dishes and cooking utensils in a food establishment is very important to prevent food contamination and food borne illness.Although, mixing bleach directly into the dishwasher can be used while trying to fix it, but it is not a permanent solution.Please repair the dishwasher as soon as possible.
- 16. Is the facility free of unapproved animals, vermin and/or insects (unless noted elsewhere), and maintained to prevent the entry or harbourage of pests?
- Pest trap and some mice droppings were seen in the dry storage area at the time of inspection.Please clean any mice dropping in this area and any other affected area in this facility.
- 19. Does the facility have a valid permit and does the facility operate in compliance with the conditions of that permit, or is the facility awaiting approval prior to operation?
- This facility is operating without a valid food handling permit as the previous food handling permit has expired.PHI reminded and handed the owner an invoice for payment/renewal of the food handling permit.
- 21. Is the facility properly constructed and maintained in a state of good repair to allow for the safe and sanitary handling of food?
- -When testing the dishwasher, the water from the dishwasher drainage system leaked unto the floor.Water should not be allowed to leak unto the floor in a food establishment. If it does, it should be wiped off immediately.Please fix the leak as soon as possible and always keep the dishwasher floor area dry at all times.- At the time of inspection, oil buildup was observed in the exhaust hood in the kitchen.Although the service date is not yet due, please arrange for the maintenance/ servicing of this hood.Also, always wipe this oil off the exhaust hood so they do not drip into food.
- 23. Is the facility maintained in a clean and sanitary condition?
- -The curtains hanging at the entrance of the bar area and the entrance of the kitchen had food debris on them.-Please take down these curtains and wash them thoroughly. -Also, put in more effort in wiping down surfaces, equipment's, and floors in this food establishment.
- 04. Does the operator use approved methods for cleaning and sanitizing equipment, utensils, and surfaces?
- Monitoring Inspection
0 infractions
- Monitoring Inspection
0 infractions