Government Roles and Responsibilities for Food Safety in Ontario
Municipal

The Health Protection and Promotion Act provides public health inspectors and local medical officers of health with broad powers to investigate and take, or order taken, any steps which are necessary to eliminate, or minimize, the effects of hazards to public health. Public health inspectors are responsible for inspecting approximately 80,000 food premises across the province. The key program responsibilities of the municipal public health units include food service and food retail establishments, and food processing plants that are not federally registered.

Health Units are also responsible for communicating information about food safety to the community and responding to food-related complaints.