Le Ballon Rouge

Inspection summary

Le Ballon Rouge has been inspected 9 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since April 12, 2022. The most recent inspection, on April 7, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

2 of 9 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 1 infraction recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Protecting food from contamination 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 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.

• 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on March 8, 2024. For example: Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained

• 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on April 7, 2026. For example: Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

• Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

  Hands are one of the main ways germs spread, from person to person and onto food and surfaces. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing their hands when required, and sick staff being kept away from work where it matters. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

  Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 24, 2023. For example: Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

• 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 once on April 12, 2022. For example: Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed

• 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 5 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on October 16, 2024. For example: Facility is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition

About this data

These results come from City of Hamilton Public Health Services, 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.

• View the official City of Hamilton Public Health Services disclosure site
• See all inspected facilities in Hamilton
• How to read an inspection report