Skip to content
Loading map…

Tu Despensa Latin Market

85 Kingston Road East, Ajax ON L1S7J4 · Food Safety Inspections

Official record from Durham Region →

Inspection summary

Tu Despensa Latin Market has been inspected 6 times by Durham Region Health Department since February 28, 2025. The most recent inspection, on October 8, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

None of the 6 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there were 4 inspections with 7 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Chemicals and toxic substances 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.

  • 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 on July 23, 2025. For example: Potentially hazardous food is held at 4°C (40°F) or lower

  • 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 October 8, 2026. For example: Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)

  • 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 once on July 27, 2026. For example: Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique

  • 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 3 separate inspections, most recently on April 22, 2026. For example: All foods at the premises are from an inspected source

  • 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 2 times on March 16, 2026. For example: Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers

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.

6 inspections

  1. Routine

    1 infraction

    • Food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed, installed, maintained, located (smooth, non-absorbent, cleanable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic)
      • * Observe containers/coverings/wrappings used that are not food grade
      • Operator to ensure all food containers/coverings/wrappings are made from food-grade materials
  2. Routine

    1 infraction

    • Manual dishwashing: Wash, rinse, sanitize technique
      • * Fail to use proper wash/rinse/sanitize technique
      • Operator to ensure the proper wash/rinse/sanitize dishwashing technique is applied
  3. Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • All foods at the premises are from an inspected source
      • * Fail to ensure food offered for sale or used for preparation is from an approved / inspected source
      • Operator to use food only from approved / inspected sources
  4. Routine

    4 infractions

    • Separate hand washing basin provided for food handlers
      • * Fail to provide hand washing basin in food preparation area
      • Operator to ensure a designated hand washing basin is provided and/or accessible in each food preparation area
    • Minimum of 1 Certified Food Handler per hour of operation?
      • * Fail to provide a minimum of 1 certified food handler per hour of operation
      • Operator to ensure a minimum of 1 certified food handler is present during every hour of operation
    • All foods at the premises are from an inspected source
      • * Fail to ensure food offered for sale or used for preparation is from an approved / inspected source
      • Operator to use food only from approved / inspected sources
    • Walls clean and in good repair
      • * Fail to ensure walls of food premise kept clean and in good repair
      • Operator to ensure walls of food premise are maintained in a sanitary condition and in good repair
  5. 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)
      • Operator to ensure potentially hazardous foods are held at 4°C (40°F) or lower
    • Thermometers used to verify food preparation and storage temperatures
      • * Fail to provide thermometer in temperature controlled room / equipment used to store potentially hazardous foods
      • Operator to provide accurate and easily readable indicating thermometers in temperature controlled rooms/equipment used for storage of potentially hazardous foods
    • All foods at the premises are from an inspected source
      • * Fail to ensure food offered for sale or used for preparation is from an approved / inspected source
      • Operator to use food only from approved / inspected sources
    • 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
  6. Routine

    1 infraction

    • 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 ensure that all equipment/non-food contact surfaces are maintained clean and in good repair

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website