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OSMOWS SHAWARMA

4 870 Upper James St, Hamilton ON L9C 3A4 · Restaurant

Official record from Hamilton →

Inspection summary

OSMOWS SHAWARMA has been inspected 15 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since March 17, 2022. The most recent inspection, on May 28, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

2 of 15 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 4 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food temperature control and Protecting food from contamination.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

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 16 times across 12 separate inspections, most recently on May 28, 2026. For example: Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed

  • 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 7 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on October 8, 2025. For example: Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less

  • 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 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on October 8, 2025. For example: Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner

  • 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 once on October 8, 2025. For example: Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

  • 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 once on June 18, 2025. For example: Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation

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.

15 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection

    3 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
    • Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
  2. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
  3. Routine Inspection

    6 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
      • Provide paper towels in a dispenser at hand basin in food preparation area
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
    • Food is held at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Ensure all hazardous foods are stored at 4°C (40°F) or less
    • Hot holding: minimum of 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
      • Ensure food is held above 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
    • Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure food handlers confine hair while handling food
  4. Re-inspection

    1 infraction

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
      • Ensure food contact equipment and utensils are free from cracks, crevices and open seams
  5. Complaint

    8 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure ceilings are kept clean and in good repair
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure food contact equipment and utensils are free from cracks, crevices and open seams
    • 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
      • Keep cloths clean, in good repair, and restricted to a single task
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
      • Ensure manual dishwashing includes the three steps: wash, rinse, and sanitize
      • Quaternary ammonium compound must be at least 200 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
    • Toxic or poisonous substances required for maintenance in food premises are stored and handled as prescribed in the regulation
      • Store toxic/poisonous substances in container bearing identifying labels
    • Maintenance of sanitary facilities
      • Maintain sanitary facility clean and in good repair
    • 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
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
      • Provide easily readable thermometer in refrigeration or hot-holding equipment
  6. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  7. Routine Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
      • Ensure ventilation system/exhaust hood/filters/canopy is maintained in a clean and sanitary manner
    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
      • Ensure manual dishwashing includes the three steps: wash, rinse, and sanitize
      • Quaternary ammonium compound must be at least 200 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
    • Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure food handlers confine hair while handling food
  8. Routine Inspection

    2 infractions

    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • Ensure hand washing basin is unobstructed and accessible for hand washing
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
  9. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  10. Routine Inspection

    6 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
      • Ensure equipment, utensils, and multi-service articles are suitable for intended purposes (food-grade)
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
      • Collect and remove garbage and waste as necessary to maintain sanitary conditions
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
    • Hot holding: minimum of 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
      • Ensure food is held above 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
      • Ensure certified food handler or supervisor is present during all hours of operation
    • Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure food handlers confine hair while handling food
  11. Routine Inspection

    5 infractions

    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
    • Garbage and waste (solid or liquid) collected and removed to ensure sanitary condition of premise
      • Collect and remove garbage and waste as necessary to maintain sanitary conditions
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
  12. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Multi-service articles and food contact surfaces cleaned and sanitized after each use and following operations where contamination may have occurred
  13. Re-inspection

    1 infraction

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
  14. Routine Inspection

    7 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
      • Cleaning required around, under, and behind kitchen equipment, counters, and baseboards
      • Ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
      • Ensure walls are kept clean and in good repair
    • 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
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles in good repair
      • Ensure equipment, utensils, and multi-service articles are suitable for intended purposes (food-grade)
    • Food processed in a safe manner
      • Cool hazardous food from 60°C (140°F) to 20°C (68°F) within 2 hours
      • Cool hazardous food from 20°C (68°F) to 4°C (40°F) within 4 hours
    • 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
    • Hot holding: minimum of 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
      • Ensure food is held above 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
    • Certified food handler present in the food service premise
      • Ensure certified food handler or supervisor is present during all hours of operation
  15. Routine Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
      • Ensure equipment, utensils and or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized
    • Furniture, equipment and appliances in food handling and storage rooms arranged and constructed to permit a clean and sanitary environment
      • Maintain and arrange furniture to permit a clean and sanitary condition
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • Provide sanitizing solution for wiping cloths/rinsing large utensils/rinsing food contact surfaces
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer

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