Hamilton’s Board of Health will receive an update on the City’s food safety inspections on Monday, April 27, 2026, as part of its routine business.
The report arrives amid one of Hamilton’s worst food poisoning incidents in over a decade, with dozens of confirmed salmonella poisonings among patrons who dined at the Piper Arms restaurant at 1786 Stone Church Road East during late March and early April. Many of those affected have been hospitalised and will require ongoing long-term treatment.
Even before the outbreak, the City was aware that the Piper Arms was failing to handle and store food safely. Several serious violations were discovered during a routine inspection on March 10, 2026. These included failure to maintain hand washing stations, storage of food on the floor, failure to maintain safe food temperatures, and failure to properly maintain refrigeration and hot-holding equipment.
Despite these violations, which exposed the public to food poisoning risks, the City allowed the restaurant to remain open and scheduled a follow-up inspection for March 12, 2026. On that date, the City issued the owners a new Green “PASS” sign to display for patrons.
At the beginning of April, area hospitals notified City officials of a food poisoning outbreak possibly linked to the Piper Arms.
Inspectors returned to the restaurant on April 10 and discovered violations as severe as those found in March. They found food was not properly “protected from contamination or adulteration,” that food was not “processed in a safe manner,” and that “hazardous foods” were not being properly “held at 4°C (40°F) or less.” The violations were serious enough that some product was “seized and destroyed,” according to the inspection report.
Despite the severe violations, and even with food poisoning hospitalizations, City of Hamilton inspectors issued the restaurant another Green “PASS” card.
Finally, on April 13, following public attention generated by social media posts from those affected by the outbreak, City officials closed the restaurant.
At last count, confirmed 23 cases and eight hospitalisations linked to the outbreak.
Monday’s Board of Health meeting will be the first opportunity for Hamilton councillors to seek answers from City officials regarding the ongoing outbreak.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and will be livestreamed on YouTube.
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Published: April 25, 2026
Last updated: April 25, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
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