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Taste of Jamaican’s Kitchen

9 John St N, Hamilton ON L8R 1H1 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

Taste of Jamaican’s Kitchen has been inspected 7 times by City of Hamilton Public Health Services since November 27, 2024. The most recent inspection, on August 11, 2026, recorded 4 infractions.

1 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 5 inspections with 19 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Protecting food from contamination and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

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 7 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on August 11, 2026. For example: Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer

  • 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 4 separate inspections, most recently on March 23, 2026. 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 11, 2026. For example: Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers

  • 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 19, 2026. For example: Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained

  • 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 4 separate inspections, most recently on August 11, 2026. For example: Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes

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.

7 inspections

  1. Routine Inspection

    4 infractions

    • Hand washing basin with supplies of soap and paper towels in dispensers
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
  2. Re-inspection

    2 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
  3. Routine Inspection

    9 infractions

    • Floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair and maintained in a sanitary manner
    • 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
      • Maintain hand washing stations with adequate supplies
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • 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
    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
      • Chlorine sanitizer concentration must be at least 100 parts per million at 24°C or greater for at least 45 seconds
      • Use sanitizing agent for intended purpose
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
    • Refrigeration and hot-holding equipment maintained
      • Provide easily readable thermometer in refrigeration or hot-holding equipment
    • Food handlers who come into contact with food/utensils shall do so in a sanitary manner
      • Ensure food handlers wash hands as often as necessary
  4. Re-inspection

    0 infractions

  5. Routine Inspection

    4 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
    • Equipment, utensils, multi-service articles and all food contact surfaces are properly constructed
    • Cloths and towels maintained in clean, good repair and not used for other purposes
      • 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
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
  6. Routine Inspection

    3 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
    • 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
    • Food protected from contamination or adulteration
      • Protect food from contamination and adulteration
  7. Routine Inspection

    1 infraction

    • Testing reagent used to determine concentration of sanitizer
      • Provide and use test reagent to determine concentration of sanitizer

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