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PRIMA CAFE

41 SENECA ST OTTAWA ON K1S 4W9 · Food Safety

Official record from Ottawa →

Inspection summary

PRIMA CAFE has been inspected 6 times by Ottawa Public Health since March 12, 2025. The most recent inspection, on August 24, 2026, recorded 4 infractions.

None of the 6 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 9 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Pests and Cleaning and sanitizing.

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.

  • 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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on August 24, 2026. For example: Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on August 24, 2026. For example: The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on April 7, 2025. For example: Equipment for either manual or mechanical dishwashing available on site.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 20, 2025. For example: Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.

  • 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 March 12, 2025. For example: Utensils shall be sanitized through the use of an approved chemical solution or hot water for the required contact time and temperature.

About this data

These results come from Ottawa 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.

6 inspections

  1. Required

    4 infractions

    • Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
      • The hand washing stations must be used only for the hand washing of employees.
    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
      • Protect the food premise against the entry of pests.
      • Maintain records of all pest control measures that are undertaken in the premise.
    • Every food premise shall be operated and maintained such that the floor or floor coverings, the walls and ceilings, and the premises itself are maintained in a sanitary condition.
    • Every food premise ensures that sanitary facilities are maintained in accordance with the design, construction and installation requirements in Ontario Regulation 332/12, is properly equipped and in good repair.
      • Equip every sanitary facility with a method of hand drying that uses single-service towels or a hot air dryer.
  2. Follow-up

    2 infractions

    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
      • Keep the food premise free of conditions that lead to the harbouring of pests.
    • Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
  3. Required

    3 infractions

    • Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
      • The hand washing stations must be used only for the hand washing of employees.
      • Failure to comply may result in legal action.
    • The food premise is protected against the entry of pests and kept free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests.
      • Keep the food premise free of conditions that lead to the harbouring of pests.
    • Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
  4. Follow-up

    3 infractions

    • Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
      • Provide an adequate number of hand washing stations that are maintained and kept adequately supplied and that are situated for convenient access by food handlers.
    • Equipment for either manual or mechanical dishwashing available on site.
      • Provide mechanical equipment or equipment for washing by hand.
      • Provide a two compartment sink of corrosion-resistant material for the cleaning and sanitizing of utensils.
    • Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
      • Operator must ensure that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training.
      • For further information, please visit www.ottawapublichealth.ca; Search phrase: Certified Food Handler Training
  5. Follow-up

    5 infractions

    • Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
      • Provide an adequate number of hand washing stations that are maintained and kept adequately supplied and that are situated for convenient access by food handlers.
    • Equipment for either manual or mechanical dishwashing available on site.
      • Provide mechanical equipment or equipment for washing by hand.
      • Provide a two compartment sink of corrosion-resistant material for the cleaning and sanitizing of utensils.
    • Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
      • Operator must ensure that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training.
      • For further information, please visit www.ottawapublichealth.ca; Search phrase: Certified Food Handler Training
    • Potentially hazardous foods are distributed, maintained, stored, transported, displayed, sold and offered for sale in which the internal temperature is at 4°C (40°F) or lower or 60°C (140°F) or higher.
      • Keep potentially hazardous foods at an internal temperature of 4°C (40°F) or lower.
      • Failure to comply may result in legal action.
    • Food liable under law to inspection in a food premise must be obtained from a source that is subject to inspection.
      • Maintain records of food purchases for one year from the purchase date.
  6. Required

    6 infractions

    • Every food premise shall be provided with employee hand washing stations.
      • Provide an adequate number of hand washing stations that are maintained and kept adequately supplied and that are situated for convenient access by food handlers.
    • A person giving notice of an intention to commence to operate a food premise to the medical officer of health under subsection 16(2) of the Health Protection and Promotion Act shall include his or her name, contact information and the location of the food premise in the notice.
      • Provide your name, contact information and the location of the food premise in the notice required under the Act.
    • Equipment for either manual or mechanical dishwashing available on site.
      • Provide mechanical equipment or equipment for washing by hand.
      • Provide a two compartment sink of corrosion-resistant material for the cleaning and sanitizing of utensils.
    • Utensils shall be sanitized through the use of an approved chemical solution or hot water for the required contact time and temperature.
      • Sanitize utensils in a clean chlorine solution of not less than 100 parts per million of available chlorine at a temperature not lower than 24°C for at least 45 seconds.
      • Sanitize utensils in a clean quaternary ammonium solution of not less than 200 parts per million at a temperature not lower than 24°C for at least 45 seconds.
    • Every operator of a food service premise ensures that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training during every hour in which the premise is operating.
      • Operator must ensure that there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premise who has completed food handler training.
      • For further information, please visit www.ottawapublichealth.ca; Search phrase: Certified Food Handler Training
    • The equipment used for refrigeration or hot-holding of potentially hazardous foods contains accurate indicating thermometers that can be easily read.
      • Provide refrigeration units with accurate indicating thermometers that may be easily read.

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