The city of Toronto in Ontario is governed by the Health Protection and Promotion Act of the province. Like other places in Canada and their respective local health authorities, all food facilities in Toronto are required to train its staff in food safety and sanitation – as well as to have certified staff members present during all operating hours. If you work as a food handler or service worker in Toronto, be prepared to get food safety training at work or be asked by your employer to become certified.
The down-low on food safety training
In 2008 and 2010, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care created the Health Protection and Promotion Act, a by law that governs all food handling facilities in the province – including Toronto. Food facilities are classified as low, medium, or high risk. In 2008, only high-risk facilities were required to have food safety certified employees. By 2010, even medium-risk facilities needed to have a food safety certified employee present during all operating hours.
The training program certified employees have to take should be accredited by Toronto’s local health authorities – which is exactly the case with Toronto First Aid. We work hand in hand with the local health authorities to ensure that the certification program in food safety we offer to the public meet the requirements set in the entire province of Ontario.
Food safety and training course in Toronto
Toronto First Aid offers high quality training courses on basic and advanced food safety and sanitation. The basic course, the first level, is tailored for people who directly handle food. It introduces a lot of basic concepts, such as microbiology and the pathology of FBIs. Most of the curriculum is actually skill-based, focusing on sanitation and infection control. It is usually completed in one to two days, taking eight hours.
The second level of training is an advanced food safety course, targeting management staff. The curriculum then focuses on the management of a food facility – perfect for supervisors and owners. It covers everything needed to run a food establishment – such as general housekeeping, work flow, and physical characteristics of the work environment. It takes two days to complete, over 16 hours in total.
Classroom vs. Self-study
At Toronto First Aid, we give all prospective students to study at their preferred pace and style. The most popular is a full training course, which is basically a classroom-based learning experience. The lessons and the certification exam are included in this program. Another option is the self-study route. Students who prefer to study at their own pace can simply buy our workbook and sign up separately for the certification exam. They can study at home or in our designated study halls – whatever is comfortable for you.
Foodborne illness
Foodborne illness or food poisoning as it is popularly called is caused by eating food contaminated with microorganisms and chemicals. People who have foodborne illness typically experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and stomach cramps. While the severity of symptoms may vary across different FBIs, they are usually very similar.