Payless Meats
469 Powell St, Vancouver BC V6A 1G7 · Retail Food Store
Inspection summary
Payless Meats has been inspected 13 times by Vancouver Coastal Health since April 28, 2015. The most recent inspection, on February 6, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.
4 of 13 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, 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.
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 7 times across 7 separate inspections, most recently on March 6, 2025. For example:
Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on February 6, 2026. For example:
All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
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 September 18, 2017. For example:
The premises is free of pests.
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 once on March 10, 2016. For example:
Potentially hazardous food is thawed in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on February 6, 2026. For example:
Operator of a food premises has developed, maintained, and followed approved written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur.
About this data
These results come from Vancouver Coastal 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.
13 inspections
- Routine
2 infractions
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Sanitizing solution concentration is too high.
- Operator of a food premises has developed, maintained, and followed approved written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur.
- Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Routine
2 infractions
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Routine
0 infractions
- Routine
1 infraction
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
1 infraction
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not contaminated.
- Food is stored or refrigerated in a manner that cross contamination could occur.
- Food is not stored off of floor.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not contaminated.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
1 infraction
- The premises and all equipment, utensils and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- The premises is not maintained in a sanitary condition.
- The premises and all equipment, utensils and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- Routine Follow-up
0 infractions
- Routine
3 infractions
- The premises and all equipment, utensils and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
- Each employee washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
- The premises is free of pests.
- Premises is not protected from the entrance of pests.
- Routine
2 infractions
- Operation of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Premises is not designed and/or supplied with equipment that will ensure the safe and sanitary handling of food.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not contaminated.
- Operation of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Routine
5 infractions
- Operation of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Premises is not designed and/or supplied with equipment that will ensure the safe and sanitary handling of food.
- Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not contaminated.
- Ready to eat food is subject to cross contamination with raw food.
- Potentially hazardous food is thawed in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
- Potentially hazardous food is not thawed using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Sanitizing solution is not present or at insufficient concentration.
- An operator of a food premises must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
- Temperature records are not being used to monitor critical limits.
- Operation of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
- Routine
2 infractions
- All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
- Each employee washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
- Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
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