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NOW TEA

#106-280 Lester St, Waterloo ON N2L3W5 · Facility

Official record from Waterloo Region →

Inspection summary

NOW TEA has been inspected 4 times by Region of Waterloo Public Health since December 9, 2024. The most recent inspection, on June 15, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

None of the 4 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 6 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Protecting food from contamination and Food temperature control.

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.

  • 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 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on December 5, 2025. For example: Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer

  • 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 once on June 15, 2026. For example: Food protected from contamination or adulteration

  • 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 once on June 9, 2025. For example: Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Many jurisdictions require a trained or certified person on site, such as a certified food handler. These findings mean the training record or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean anything was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 5 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on June 15, 2026. For example: Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on June 15, 2026. For example: Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes

About this data

These results come from Region of Waterloo 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.

4 inspections

  1. Compliance Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Change sanitizing solution for wiping cloths at a minimum of every 2 hours, or as often as necessary, to maintain the solution clean and sanitary at all times
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
  2. Compliance Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
      • Ensure hand washing basin is unobstructed and accessible for hand washing
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed and maintained
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
  3. Compliance Inspection

    5 infractions

    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Adjust or repair the refrigeration unit immediately. Do not store any hazardous foods in the unit until it is able to maintain hazardous foods at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4°C (40°F) or less
    • Results of any inspection conducted by a public health inspector are posted in accordance with the inspector's request
      • Post Check It! We Inspect it. disclosure sign in a location visible by patrons.
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed and maintained
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Change sanitizing solution for wiping cloths at a minimum of every 2 hours, or as often as necessary, to maintain the solution clean and sanitary at all times
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
  4. Compliance Inspection

    6 infractions

    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
      • Ensure manual dishwashing includes the three steps: wash, rinse, and sanitize
    • Results of any inspection conducted by a public health inspector are posted in accordance with the inspector's request
      • Post Check It! We Inspect it. disclosure sign in a location visible by patrons.
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Hand washing station must be used only for hand washing of employees
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
      • Ensure a food handler or supervisor, who is a certified food handler, is present during all hours of operation
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Change sanitizing solution for wiping cloths at a minimum of every 2 hours, or as often as necessary, to maintain the solution clean and sanitary at all times
      • Ensure wiping cloths are kept in a sanitizing solution when not in use
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces

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