McKelvies
1680 LOWER WATER, HALIFAX · Food Establishment
Inspection summary
McKelvies has been inspected 6 times by Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (Food Safety Program) since June 10, 2024. The most recent inspection, on March 24, 2026, found no infractions.
2 of 6 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Cleaning and sanitizing.
The last 2 inspections in a row found no infractions. 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.
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 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 7, 2025. For example:
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.
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 February 7, 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;
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 across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 7, 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;
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 June 10, 2024. For example:
29(2)(b) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done: (b) insects, rodents and other pests are controlled;
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.
6 inspections
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
0 infractions
- Inspection
1 infraction
- 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;
- No dedicated hand wash sink observed in the bakery prep area. In accordance with Section 2.14 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must provide at least one hand washing station in each food preparation area. Install a dedicated hand wash sink in the bakery prep area.
- 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;
- Inspection
2 infractions
- 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;
- Cleaning is required on wooden shelf in dry storage in basement.
- 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 meat observed stored in walk-in cooler above produce / ready-to-eat food items. Ensure raw meat is always stored on bottom shelf of refrigerator.
- 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;
- Inspection
1 infraction
- 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;
- No dedicated hand wash sink observed in the bakery prep area. In accordance with Section 2.14 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must provide at least one hand washing station in each food preparation area. Install a dedicated hand wash sink in the bakery prep area.
- 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;
- Inspection
6 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;
- No dedicated hand wash sink observed in the bakery prep area. In accordance with Section 2.14 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, you must provide at least one hand washing station in each food preparation area. Install a dedicated hand wash sink in the bakery prep area.
- 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;
- Dust build-up observed on the clean dishware storage shelf and on the fan in the dish washing area, and on the ceiling in the walk-in cooler downstairs. Clean shelf, fan, and ceiling to remove dust build-up.
- 29(2)(b) A maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program must include procedures to ensure that all of the following are done:
(b) insects, rodents and other pests are controlled;
- Rodent droppings observed in the following areas: on the floor under the front prep table, at the floor/wall junction in the back prep area, on the service line shelf, on the floor under the dry storage shelves downstairs, on the wooden dry storage shelves downstairs, and at floor/wall junctions in the bakery. Areas upstairs were cleaned and sanitized at time of inspection. Areas in the basement to be cleaned and sanitized.
- 34 An operator must ensure that a food establishment is operated so that all food and food ingredients are processed, manufactured, handled, prepared, packaged, served, sold, offered for sale or distribution free of charge, dispensed, displayed and stored in a manner that prevents contamination and adulteration.
- A bag of carrots and a bag of onions were observed stored directly on the floor in the walk-in cooler downstairs. Store food at least 6 inches (15cm) off the floor to protect from contamination.
- 34 An operator must ensure that a food establishment is operated so that all food and food ingredients are processed, manufactured, handled, prepared, packaged, served, sold, offered for sale or distribution free of charge, dispensed, displayed and stored in a manner that prevents contamination and adulteration.
- In-use knives observed stored between equipment at the service line. Store utensils in a sanitary manner to protect from contamination. Knives moved to a clean shelf at time of inspection.
- 46 An operator must not sell, offer for sale, supply, prepare, process, package, display, serve, dispense or store food that is contaminated or adulterated.
- Moldy lemons observed in the walk-in cooler downstairs. Moldy lemons discarded at time of 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;
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