The Bench Market

Inspection summary

The Bench Market has been inspected 13 times by Interior Health Authority since January 28, 2013. The most recent inspection, on November 19, 2025, found no infractions.

8 of 13 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food source, labelling and allergens, Food temperature control and Protecting food from contamination.

The last 5 inspections in a row found no infractions. 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.

• Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk

  Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.

  Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 27, 2019. For example: 6 Are the foods from approved sources and has the operator taken steps to ensure that the food is safe for consumption?

• 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 May 22, 2018. For example: 2 Are proper temperature controls maintained to ensure safe storage and display of foods?

• 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 once on May 22, 2018. For example: 7 Are foods protected from contamination?

• Permits, records and postingLower risk

  Operating permits, required signage, written procedures and logs. These findings are administrative: the documentation was missing or out of date at the time of inspection.

  Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 4, 2019. For example: 3 Are written food handling procedures (Food Safety Plan) current and available on site?

• 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 once on April 12, 2016. For example: 16 - Does the operator and appropriate employees hold a valid FOODSAFE certificate?

About this data

These results come from Interior Health Authority, 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.

• View the official Interior Health Authority disclosure site
• See all inspected facilities in Interior Health
• How to read an inspection report