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VCH - Vancouver General Hospital - Sassafras

855 W 12th Ave, Vancouver BC V5L 1M9 · Food Service Establishment 1

Official record from Vancouver Coastal →

Inspection summary

VCH - Vancouver General Hospital - Sassafras has been inspected 26 times by Vancouver Coastal Health since June 9, 2015. The most recent inspection, on September 1, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

5 of 26 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 6 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food temperature control and Pests.

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.

  • 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 14 times across 11 separate inspections, most recently on September 1, 2026. For example: The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.

  • 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 10 times across 9 separate inspections, most recently on July 14, 2026. For example: Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded 7 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on September 1, 2026. For example: The premises is free of pests.

  • 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 5 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on July 24, 2025. For example: Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.

  • 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 July 12, 2022. For example: Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.

About this data

These results come from Vancouver Coastal Health, 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.

26 inspections

  1. Routine Follow-up

    3 infractions

    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained/used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
    • The premises is free of pests.
    • The premises is free of conditions that lead to harbouring, breeding and entry of pests.
  2. Routine Follow-up

    1 infraction

    • The premises is free of pests.
      • Premises has signs of rodent activity.
  3. Routine

    2 infractions

    • Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not stored, displayed or transported at a temperature of 4°C or below.
    • The premises is free of pests.
      • Premises has signs of rodent activity.
  4. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  5. Routine

    4 infractions

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
    • Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
      • Food is in contact with un-sanitized surfaces or utensils.
    • Potentially hazardous food is at a hot holding temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not stored or displayed at 60°C or above.
    • The premises is free of pests.
      • Premises has signs of rodent activity.
  6. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  7. Routine

    2 infractions

    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained/used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
    • All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
  8. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  9. Routine

    3 infractions

    • Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
      • Food is not protected from contamination during transportation, display, storage or preparation.
    • Potentially hazardous food is thawed in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not thawed using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained/used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
  10. Routine Follow-up

    1 infraction

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
  11. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  12. Routine

    4 infractions

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
      • Equipment or materials not required for the operation are stored on the premises.
    • Potentially hazardous food is thawed in a manner that makes it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not thawed using appropriate equipment and/or approved methods.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained/used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
    • All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
      • Sanitizing solution is not present or at an improper concentration.
  13. Routine Follow-up

    1 infraction

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
  14. Routine Follow-up

    2 infractions

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
  15. Routine Follow-up

    2 infractions

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • The premises is not maintained in a sanitary condition.
  16. Routine

    7 infractions

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
      • Premises is not in adequate repair or in sanitary condition.
    • Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
      • Food is stored in a manner that promotes cross contamination.
      • Food is not properly covered and protected from contamination.
    • Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not stored, displayed or transported at a temperature of 4°C or below.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • The premises is not maintained in a sanitary condition.
      • Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained/used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
    • All equipment, food contact surfaces, utensils, dishes & glasses used on the premises are washed and sanitized in a manner that removes contamination.
      • Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained in a manner that prevents contamination.
      • Wiping cloths are not clean, restricted in use and/or stored in approved sanitizing solution.
    • Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
      • Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
    • An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
  17. Routine Follow-up

    0 infractions

  18. Routine

    3 infractions

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
    • Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
    • Each employee demonstrates good personal hygiene and washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
      • Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
  19. Routine Follow-up

    3 infractions

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
    • Informed Dining Mark (logo) is displayed on the menu or (around or close to) menu board (e.g. dangler, cash register).
    • Directional Statement advising guests that nutritional information is available is displayed on menu or (around or close to) menu board (e.g. dangler, cash register).
  20. Routine

    10 infractions

    • Operation and maintenance of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
      • Premises is not in adequate repair or in sanitary condition.
    • Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not stored, displayed or transported at a temperature of 4°C or below.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
      • Equipment, utensils and/or food contact surfaces are not maintained/used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
    • An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
      • An accurate thermometer is not provided for temperature monitoring.
    • Informed Dining Mark (logo) is displayed on the menu or (around or close to) menu board (e.g. dangler, cash register).
    • Directional Statement advising guests that nutritional information is available is displayed on menu or (around or close to) menu board (e.g. dangler, cash register).
    • Restaurant staff is aware of program and able to provide nutrition information upon request.
    • Nutrition information is available before or at the point of ordering.
    • Informed Dining Mark (logo) is displayed alongside the nutrition information on the menu insert, nutrition menu, brochure, pamphlet, or poster.
    • Healthy Families BC Mark (logo) is displayed alongside the nutrition information on the menu insert, nutrition menu, brochure, pamphlet, or poster.
  21. Routine Follow-up

    1 infraction

    • Operation of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
      • Premises is not in good repair.
  22. Routine

    10 infractions

    • Operation of premises is in accordance with approved floor plans and specifications.
      • Premises is not in good repair.
    • Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not stored, displayed or transported at a temperature of 4°C or below.
    • Potentially hazardous food is at a hot holding temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not stored or displayed at 60°C or above.
    • Each employee washes their hands as often as necessary to prevent the contamination of food.
      • Hand washing stations are not properly supplied and maintained.
    • Informed Dining Mark (logo) is displayed on the menu or (around or close to) menu board (e.g. dangler, cash register).
    • Directional Statement advising guests that nutritional information is available is displayed on menu or (around or close to) menu board (e.g. dangler, cash register).
    • Restaurant staff is aware of program and able to provide nutrition information upon request.
    • Nutrition information is available before or at the point of ordering.
    • Informed Dining Mark (logo) is displayed alongside the nutrition information on the menu insert, nutrition menu, brochure, pamphlet, or poster.
    • Healthy Families BC Mark (logo) is displayed alongside the nutrition information on the menu insert, nutrition menu, brochure, pamphlet, or poster.
  23. Routine

    6 infractions

    • Informed Dining Mark (logo) is displayed on the menu or (around or close to) menu board (e.g. dangler, cash register).
    • Directional Statement advising guests that nutritional information is available is displayed on menu or (around or close to) menu board (e.g. dangler, cash register).
    • Restaurant staff is aware of program and able to provide nutrition information upon request.
    • Nutrition information is available before or at the point of ordering.
    • Informed Dining Mark (logo) is displayed alongside the nutrition information on the menu insert, nutrition menu, brochure, pamphlet, or poster.
    • Healthy Families BC Mark (logo) is displayed alongside the nutrition information on the menu insert, nutrition menu, brochure, pamphlet, or poster.
  24. Routine

    4 infractions

    • Potentially hazardous food is at a refrigerated temperature that keeps it safe to eat.
      • Potentially hazardous food is not stored, displayed or transported at a temperature of 4°C or below.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
    • An operator of a food service establishment must develop, maintain, and follow written procedures to ensure that a health hazard does not occur in the operation of the establishment.
      • Procedures in the food safety plan are not being followed.
    • The premises is free of pests.
  25. Routine Follow-up

    1 infraction

    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
  26. Routine

    4 infractions

    • Food is handled in a sanitary manner and is not subject to contamination.
    • The premises and all equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces are maintained in good condition and used in a manner that ensures safe and sanitary food handling.
    • A food service establishment must have written procedures to ensure the safe and sanitary operation of the establishment.
    • The premises is free of pests.

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