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Symposium Cafe

7 2630 Simcoe St N, Oshawa ON L1H 7K4 · Food Safety Inspections

Official record from Durham Region →

Inspection summary

Symposium Cafe has been inspected 7 times by Durham Region Health Department since June 11, 2025. The most recent inspection, on September 18, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

1 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 5 inspections with 10 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Cleaning and sanitizing and Chemicals and toxic substances.

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.

  • 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on June 11, 2026. For example: Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on September 18, 2026. For example: Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique

  • 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 January 20, 2026. For example: Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on September 1, 2026. For example: Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers

  • 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 once on June 11, 2026. For example: Floors clean and in good repair

About this data

These results come from Durham Region Health Department, 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.

7 inspections

  1. Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
      • * Fail to ensure adequate sanitizer concentration are achieved for sanitizing
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million and not lower than 24°C for at least 45 seconds
      • Quaternary ammonium compound must be at least 200 parts per million and lower than 24°C or more for at least 45 seconds
  2. Routine

    3 infractions

    • Washing hands thoroughly before and after handling food
      • * Food handlers fail to wash hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food or food areas
      • Food handlers must wash hands after they are contaminated and before handling food
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • * Fail to use basin only for hand washing of employees
      • Operator to ensure designated hand washing basin is only used for hand washing
    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
      • * Fail to ensure adequate sanitizer concentration are achieved for sanitizing
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million and not lower than 24°C for at least 45 seconds
  3. Routine

    3 infractions

    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • * Fail to ensure hand washing basin is easily accessible
      • Operator to ensure a designated hand washing basin is provided and/or accessible in each food preparation area
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
      • * Fail to ensure adequate sanitizer concentration are achieved for sanitizing
      • Operator to ensure the appropriate chemicals and/or temperatures are used for proper washing and sanitizing
    • Floors clean and in good repair
      • * Fail to ensure floor of food-handling room kept clean and in good repair
      • Operator to ensure floors are kept clean and in good repair
  4. Routine

    1 infraction

    • Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)
      • * Fail to maintain utensils, multi-service articles and/or food contact surfaces in a clean and sanitary manner and/or in good repair
      • Operator to ensure all food contact surfaces, utensils and/or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized after each use and are maintained in good repair
  5. Routine

    2 infractions

    • Hot holding of potentially hazardous food: minimum of 60°C (140°F) after cooking / rapid re-heating
      • * Fail to hold potentially hazardous food at 60°C (140°F) or higher after cooking / rapid re-heating
      • Operator to ensure potentially hazardous foods are held at 60°C (140°F) or higher after cooking/rapid reheating
    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • * Fail to ensure hand washing basin is easily accessible
      • Operator to ensure a designated hand washing basin is provided and/or accessible in each food preparation area
  6. Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  7. Routine

    4 infractions

    • Potentially hazardous food is held at 4°C (40°F) or lower
      • * Fail to ensure potentially hazardous foods are held at 4°C (40°F) or less
      • Potentially hazardous foods observed at an internal temperature above 4° C (40°F)
    • Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)
      • * Fail to maintain utensils, multi-service articles and/or food contact surfaces in a clean and sanitary manner and/or in good repair
      • Operator to ensure all food contact surfaces, utensils and/or multi-service articles are cleaned and sanitized after each use and are maintained in good repair
    • Equipment, non-food contact surfaces and linen are maintained, designed, constructed, installed and accessible for cleaning
      • * Fail to maintain all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are in clean and in good repair
      • Operator to adjust or repair the malfunctioning cooler immediately. Do not store any potentially hazardous foods in the malfunctioning unit until it is able to maintain hazardous foods at 4° C or lower
    • Mechanical dishwashing: Wash / rinse water clean, water temperature, timing cycles, sanitizer
      • * Fail to ensure adequate sanitizer concentration are achieved for sanitizing
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds

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