Food Safety in Regina Food Establishments
In opening up a food business, food safety should be the most important thing to you. The Saskatchewan 1994 Public Health Act requires all food facilities that directly handle food to train all its employees in food safety and sanitation. Moreover, an employee who was trained in and certified by a food safety course approved by the Regina local health authorities should be present in the establishment when food is being prepared, served, and stored (in other words, at all times!).
The regulations do not only cover personnel training – they involve every aspect of keeping a food facility safe, and their products safe for public consumption. Other sections of the regulations govern licensing, the physical environment, and public access to information about the food facility. All facilities need to abide by these regulations if they want to receive a health permit from the city (which is need in order to open for business).
The FoodSafe Course
Food safety and sanitation training in Regina is dubbed “FoodSafe”. There is a basic class and an advanced class available at Regina First Aid, with schedules through the week. We also open new schedules when needed if the volume of students cannot be accommodated by the regular schedules. The two kinds of training (basic and advanced) are divided into FoodSafe 1 and FoodSafe 2.
FoodSafe 1 introduces basic concepts of food safety to students – personal hygiene, hand hygiene, workplace sanitation, basic microbiology, and pathogenesis and basic management of foodborne illness. This is targeted towards food service workers (supervisory or regular staff) and anyone interested in learning about safety in the food handling process. FoodSafe 1 is completed over a single 8-hour session or two 4-hour sessions in one day.
FoodSafe 2 is an advanced course tailored for supervisory staff – owners, managers, executive chefs, and the like. The curriculum still focuses on food safety and sanitation, but on a management level. The course is designed to teach students how to run a food facility, keeping work and food safety the top priority at all times. Topics include general maintenance, personnel training, and physical design of the facility. FoodSafe 2 is much longer, 12 class hours spread over 2 days.
Upon completing the first level of food safety training, the student is qualified to take FoodSafe 2 if he/she wants. Certificates are awarded after completing training (either one or both levels), which is valid all over the city of Regina and the province of Saskatchewan. Our training courses are all approved by the local health authorities – you have no need to worry about the quality of education or the certificates you receive.
Getting started: About Health Permits
Before a food facility can go into business, it needs a health permit. The Food Safety Regulations also cover stipulations for applying for a health permit, specifically the following:
- Construction, extension, renovation, or alteration of a public eating establishment cannot be done without approval from the Regina local health authorities. Maintenance and construction work that does not affect the quantity or quality of the food product is not covered by this section.
- Establishments that do not need a health permit or license: personal care, special care, and residential-service homes with 20 or less residents, food vending machines, and food banks.