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SOUWESTER GIFT AND RESTAURANT

178 PEGGY'S POINT , PEGGY'S COVE · Food Establishment

Official record from Nova Scotia →

Inspection summary

SOUWESTER GIFT AND RESTAURANT has been inspected 9 times by Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change (Food Safety Program) since November 17, 2023. The most recent inspection, on July 29, 2026, recorded 7 infractions.

4 of 9 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 10 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene 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 6 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on October 29, 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;

  • 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 29, 2026. 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;

  • 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 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 29, 2026. For example: 27(d) A food establishment must develop and demonstrate policies and procedures for personnel that ensure that a person entering a food handling area or engaging in an operation in a food establishment who comes into contact with food meets all of the following: (d) the person washes their hands as often as is necessary to prevent contamination of food;

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 29, 2026. For example: 33(1) An operator must ensure that the temperature of food is controlled so that the food does not deteriorate or become inedible or unsafe.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 29, 2026. For example: 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following: (c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;

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.

9 inspections

  1. Inspection

    7 infractions

    • 18A A person must not begin to construct a new food establishment or renovate or expand an existing food establishment until construction plans and specifications are submitted to and approved by an inspector.
      • Food service area (canteen) constructed in an exterior structure without first obtaining approval from the Public Health Inspector. In accordance with Section 2.2.2 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, with regard to alterations to existing facilities, if the alterations are major or involve items or equipment that are specified in the Code, you must submit the plans and specifications regarding the alterations to be approved by the Department. Submit updated floor plans to the Public Health Inspector.
    • 18A A person must not begin to construct a new food establishment or renovate or expand an existing food establishment until construction plans and specifications are submitted to and approved by an inspector.
      • Food service area (canteen) constructed in an exterior structure without first obtaining approval from the Public Health Inspector. In accordance with Section 2.2.2 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, with regard to alterations to existing facilities, if the alterations are major or involve items or equipment that are specified in the Code, you must submit the plans and specifications regarding the alterations to be approved by the Department. Submit updated floor plans to the Public Health Inspector.
    • 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:  (c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
      • Remove cloth/curtain from around the hand wash sink in the food service area (canteen) as this is not an easily cleanable material. Surfaces and materials must be smooth, non-porous, and easily cleanable.
    • 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;
      • Hand wash sinks must be accessible at all times and be used for no other purpose other than hand washing.
    • 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;
      • Supply hot water to the hand wash sink in the food service area (canteen) located in the permanent structure.
    • 27(d) A food establishment must develop and demonstrate policies and procedures for personnel that ensure that a person entering a food handling area or engaging in an operation in a food establishment who comes into contact with food meets all of the following: (d) the person washes their hands as often as is necessary to prevent contamination of food;
      • Food handlers must remove gloves and wash their hands when gloves become contaminated (e.g. touching ones hair). Gloves are not a substitute for hand washing and can become contaminated just as hands do.
    • 33(1) An operator must ensure that the temperature of food is controlled so that the food does not deteriorate or become inedible or unsafe.
      • Hot held potentially hazardous food must be held at a temperature above 60 degrees Celsius. Discard hot dogs that were in the hot dog warmer.
  2. Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Inspection

    3 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;
      • Discard ice in ice machines; clean and sanitize interior surfaces of the ice machines to remove mold build-up.
    • 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.
      • Discontinue using scoops with no handles for scooping ready-to-eat food; use scoop with handles and store the scoop in a sanitary manner so that the handle does not come in contact with the food.
    • 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.
      • Discontinue storing ice cream scoop in room temperature and store in-use scoop in a sanitary manner: store in a hot holding unit in water maintained at 60 degrees Celsius or above, or in a clean container in the freezer or refrigeration, or wipe clean with a food grade surface sanitizer and store in a clean container (washing, rinsing, and sanitizing every 4 hours).
  4. Inspection

    0 infractions

  5. Inspection

    4 infractions

    • 19(1)(c) A food establishment must be located, designed, constructed and maintained to ensure all of the following:  (c) that the surfaces and materials are durable, non-toxic and are easy to maintain, clean and sanitize;
      • Floor in the walk-in cooler observed to be rusty. Surfaces must be smooth, non-porous, and easily cleanable.
    • 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;
      • Glass washer at the bar measured 0ppm chlorine ; chlorine bottle observed empty and was unable to be restocked at time of inspection. Discontinue use of the glass washer until the chlorine has been restocked and measured 100ppm.
    • 29(3) A food establishment must provide facilities and equipment to implement the maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program and must identify in their program the cleaning and sanitizing agents used in the food establishment, including their concentration and uses.
      • Quat sanitizer spray bottle incorrectly labelled as Comet Disinfectant Cleaning with Bleach. Chemicals removed from original containers must be clearly labelled to identify contents.
    • 33(1) An operator must ensure that the temperature of food is controlled so that the food does not deteriorate or become inedible or unsafe.
      • Packaged cooked lobster observed thawing in a bucket in room temperature water. Potentially hazardous food must be thawed under refrigeration at 4 degrees Celsius or less, completely submerged in cold running water, as part of the cooking process, or in a microwave. Packaged lobster moved to the walk-in cooler at time of inspection.
  6. Inspection

    0 infractions

  7. Inspection

    3 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;
      • Install paper towel dispenser at the bar hand wash sink.
    • 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;
      • Debris build-up observed on the interior surfaces of the ice machine. Discard ice; clean and sanitize interior surfaces of the ice machine according to the manufacturers instructions.
    • 33(1) An operator must ensure that the temperature of food is controlled so that the food does not deteriorate or become inedible or unsafe.
      • Three 10L containers of chowder stock observed cooling in the walk-in cooler. Internal temperature measured 49.8 degrees Celsius. Chowder stock transferred to smaller portions at time of inspection to allow for quicker cooling.
  8. Inspection

    0 infractions

  9. Inspection

    5 infractions

    • 18A A person must not begin to construct a new food establishment or renovate or expand an existing food establishment until construction plans and specifications are submitted to and approved by an inspector.
      • Bar area renovated without first obtaining approval from the Public Health Officer. In accordance with Section 2.2.2 of the NS Food Retail and Food Services Code, with regard to alterations to existing facilities, if the alterations are major or involve items or equipment that are specified in the Code, you must submit the plans and specifications regarding the alterations to be approved by the Department. Submit updated floor plans to the Public Health Officer.
    • 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;
      • Install paper towel in/on a dispenser and liquid hand soap at the bar hand wash sink.
    • 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;
      • Quaternary Ammonium observed hooked up to the new glass washer in the bar. Glass washer must only use chlorine or iodophor (iodine) sanitizers. Discontinue use of the glass washer until it has been serviced my a dish washer technician and the sanitizer is measuring at the correct concentration (e.g. 100ppm chlorine or 12.5-25ppm iodine).
    • 29(3) A food establishment must provide facilities and equipment to implement the maintenance, cleaning and sanitation program and must identify in their program the cleaning and sanitizing agents used in the food establishment, including their concentration and uses.
      • Several chemical spray bottles observed with no labels. Chemicals removed from original containers must be clearly labelled to identify contents. Chemical spray bottles labelled at time of inspection.
    • 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.
      • Black build-up observed on the interior surfaces of the ice machine next to the dish washer. Discard ice and clean/sanitize the ice machine according to the manufacturers instructions.

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