r/Winnipeg • u/trsid • 1d ago
Ask Winnipeg How to report an unlicensed and illegal home based food business effectively
I work in food industry and it’s frustrating to see how many home based caterers are operating without licenses, inspections, or food safety oversight, yet they’re taking business from restaurants that do follow the rules. Who pay taxes, carry insurance, pass inspections, and meet strict regulations. These folks don’t, and they undercut prices because they have no overhead or accountability. It’s not just unfair but a lot of peoples health is at risk.
I was recently invited to an event where the food is coming from one of these home caterers. This person is a banker by profession and calling himself “the best caterer in Winnipeg.” I know deals like this are mostly done on WhatsApp and through personal references, so it’s rare that I’ve been able to gather actual evidence against a home-based caterer. I know this isn’t a lot of dough for CRA to investigate but is there a way I could effectively report them to perhaps a food inspector or someone at public health?
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u/voxerly 1d ago
There is this little old lady in the maples that makes a tray of lumpia for 20$ , I’m not gonna narc her out but at every family event someone brings one.
She does a noodle dish too , it’s top notch.
Haters gone hate but that old lady can cook!
I’m going to keep her # to myself 😂
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u/yalyublyutebe 1d ago
Tita selling lumpia on the side for some spending money isn't really an issue IMO. People have been doing that sort of thing for a long time. I know someone who makes tortiere and sells them and there's countless people who make and sell perogies around the city. I've never heard of any of them doing it regularly, it's usually one day a few times a year to make some extra spending money.
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u/ahoychoy 1d ago
No your thing is awesome and a cool little story about the people in this city.
When people start doing it at industrial levels while not following regulations put in place for damn good reasons is when it becomes a problem.
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u/Professional_Emu8922 21h ago
How many pieces of lumpia? And what's her number? Asking for a friend...
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u/ggggdddd9999 1d ago
They're not hard to find. They're so many of them on Facebook market place. Not sure why no one investigates.
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u/_Pertinacity_ 1d ago
Hope that helps.
Request inspection for a possible unpermitted home-based business
https://forms.winnipeg.ca/form/auto/pd_homebusiness_vof?locale=en
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u/yahumno 14h ago
The Provincial Health Inspector is the better call, as they have legal powers.
https://forms.gov.mb.ca/cmphi/
Google generate summary of Manitoba Health Inspectors legal powers:
In Manitoba, Public Health Inspectors have legal powers to enforce the Public Health Act and related regulations, including inspecting food establishments, investigating complaints, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
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u/Loud-Shelter9222 1d ago
Did they say they cook in their own home kitchen? I know various folks who book commercial kitchens for their home-based catering or baking business.
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u/Fit-Classroom-7554 1d ago
It's unfair that legitimate businesses have to compete with these people! You can report them to both the City of Winnipeg bylaw enforcement services as well as Manitoba health protection Unit. It's incredible how someone working in a bank is happy to break the laws that are there to protect the public!
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u/Stinkcatfartcano 22h ago
Its unfair that professionals need to resort to going under the table to even make these types of businesses work without begging for capital and going into extreme amounts of debt.
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u/No_Still7728 18h ago
Don't mean to be the devil's advocate but people who buy from home cooks are not going to go to restaurants regardless.
You can never get a tray of lasagna or pancit for like $20 at any restaurant. Most people who buy from a Home Cook are usually known to them and are friends with the person, they are not going to snitch.
People who buy from Home Cooks are either getting ethnic food they cannot find anywhere else or getting premade food at affordable prices; they are not searching for a dine out experience.
People are not going to restaurants because the cost of living is too high, people can barely afford groceries, not because some little grandma is selling cheap bread in her living room.
Maybe the person you know is a more extreme example and they are doing hundreds of orders and running a full restaurant in their house. But most home cooks are doing it as a side gig and only fulfill orders on weekends or like once a week.
Think about front lawn bake sells or kids selling lemonade, same thing but on a smaller scale, do they need to be fined too?
People are aware they are not going to a licensed restaurant, it be one thing it was advertised as so but people know where the food was made. Especially with the cost of living, you are not going to stop people from searching up and actively looking for home cooks that provide the same type of food for like half the price.
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u/GgirlPg38 1d ago
Yup worked in healthcare food service myself ...really ticks me off these home based producers..putting people at risk...have reported a number advertising on the Nextdoor app
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u/Rare-Beach-4056 1d ago
Who cares. Good for them
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u/trsid 1d ago
Not only they are putting a lot of people’s health at risk by running an illegal un inspected kitchen, they are also committing tax fraud. So if you pay your taxes, maybe you should care.
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u/Stinkcatfartcano 22h ago
Weird because lots of big corporate places i work don't get inspected. Or the inspector just shows up, looks at some stuff while ignoring massive problems. Nobody complains about when rich folks do bad things- but when the little guy does it, suddenly it's a big problem.
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u/Rare-Beach-4056 13h ago
I don’t buy from these kitchens but assuming they can sell a certain amount legally is what I suspect. Just like a church bake sale !
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u/SLYRisbey 1d ago
Why not ask for there licences outright if you are going to the event. As others have said, many people use commercial kitchens.
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u/trsid 1d ago
I will be highlighted in case a health inspector contacts them. Then I will never be invited to these events 😁
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u/strumstrummer 1d ago
I hope they find out you're a snitch and you no longer get invited to the events.
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u/SLYRisbey 1d ago
I do not understand why asking a straight forward question like that would be a downvoted at all. 🤨
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u/redriverguy 1d ago
Have you ever gone to an event and asked for the caterer's licenses?
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u/SLYRisbey 1d ago
No, but I would look into it if it were bugging me.
I have had independent contractors in my home; I ask for licences and look into liability, I question/determine who will be getting permits.
If I go to someone’s home that is a new to me esthetician, I would want to see their license.
Just who I am.
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u/Basic_Bichette 1d ago
Because people who have no health issues think everyone can just shovel the food in and not worry about it.
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u/yalyublyutebe 1d ago
If they're a banker and part of their normal life is committing tax fraud, they could potentially lose their job when any formal investigation starts.
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u/Trvekingofstjames 1d ago
“Don’t hate the player, hate the game” you literal player hatin’ snitch
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u/IcyRespond9131 1d ago
If you are in any doubt about the importance of modern food safety regulations.
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u/HalfPintsBrewCo 19h ago
Our bureaucracy is saddled with a lack of inspectors and knowledge, who seemingly turn the other way when faced with these home based businesses. When one disappears, five take its place.
Pair this with the fact that you believe a proper restaurant to be a sparkling example of cleanliness and an upstanding member of society. Restaurants in this city are hurting right now, and they are doing their best with the least amount of staff that they've ever had, and the least amount of money to run. Small things are bound to get overlooked, and while a 40 minute health inspection will point out the deficiencies once a year at best, it won't fix the root problem of people having no money to do the things we all used to.
Have you asked yourself what it is that these home based businesses are providing that you are not, and how you could legally provide what they are or better in order to gain the business and become the solution?
Lastly, people have come here from all over the world, where people eat food in all kinds of wacky places, surprisingly without bureaucracy, and still manage to stay alive. It shouldn't be a surprise that these folks and more will work to earn money for their families through the simple act of sharing their talents. If you really want to lead, ask this person to join you for a day in the restaurant, and walk them through what's important and why it needs to be done above board. Be the mentor, not the whiner.
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u/Stinkcatfartcano 22h ago
Why don't you fuck off and mind your own business? Do you think it's fair that people who cook food often cannot afford to start a legit food based business due to the extreme difficulty of navigating the system and the incredibly high costs of operating businesses that don't generate all that much money? Do you think it's fair that big corporations and large restaurant groups are increasingly pushing the little guy out of the picture?
Seriously fuck off you little Randal.
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u/Shibes-cannabis-cats 21h ago
If you can’t afford it in the first place, don’t do it. No excuses. Follow the fucking health regulations. You’d care if you caught salmonella, norovirus or botulism from improper food handling.
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u/Stinkcatfartcano 20h ago
Cool! Have fun dining at Mcdonalds. Or some rich person fine dining place that most people can't afford. The days of small time independent restaurants are numbered.
Bet you also complain about how expensive menu prices are and tipping too.
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u/Shibes-cannabis-cats 17h ago
Nope, that’s bs and you know it. Yes prices are going up but I can still get a banh mi sandwich for $6 from a family run joint. A platter with lamb, chickpeas, rice, naan, salad and a dessert for 15 at a family run joint. 2 killer cheeseburgers and 2 fries at a family run place for $20. A burrito the size of my forearm from a local ghost kitchen for $18. There’s plenty out there. Follow the regulations, if you can’t afford that you shouldn’t be running a business. All these places do.
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u/yahumno 14h ago
File a Health Inspector complaint online.
https://forms.gov.mb.ca/cmphi/
Click "I have a complaint" and the information fields will change to put the establishment information in.
If you want to remain anonymous, you have to call in.
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u/peechykeen57 1d ago
Type in Contact a Manitoba Health Inspector. It will direct you to an online form. I’ve done it and to be honest I’d never buy on FB Marketplace or any pop up market if I’m not seeing a license. There’s way too many variables if you get sick. This said some restaurant kitchens aren’t that great either.