Food Safety Certification Courses

Food Safety Certification Courses

Why take a Food Safety Course?

Recently in the Grey Bruce area, we have seen several serious food contaminations leading to illnesses.  With proper food handling, these could have been avoided.  Food safety knowledge will help you protect the health of your customers and the reputation of your food premise.

 

Who should attend a Food Safety Course?

Food Premises Regulation, O. Reg 493/17, requires a certified food handler onsite during every hour in whch the premises is operating.

 

Food Safety Certification Courses (offered locally)

The Grey Bruce Health Unit offers food safety certification courses at various locations throughout the area.  A schedule listing when and where food safety courses are available is posted on this website and will be updated to reflect any changes or new courses.   Please see the Ministry of Health for online options. The schedule can be found under the Food Safety Course Schedule section of the website.  For more information please contact the Health Unit at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456.

 

The food safety certification course is one day long in total and meets the requirements of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for Safe Food Handling Certification.  Topics covered include safe food handling, hazardous foods, basic microbiology and food poisoning, introduction to HACCP, personal hygiene, sanitation and cleaning, pest control, food allergies and basic nutrition.

 

The fee for the course is $50.00 per person, which includes HST. You will receive the 1 day of training, a training workbook, a metal stem probe thermometer, chlorine test strips. At the end of the course there will be a closed book exam of 50 multiple choice questions, the pass mark is 70%. Individuals must attend the full day of training and pass the exam in order to receive their certification. Successful individuals will receive a certification that is valid for a period of five years and a wallet card. Certification and wallet card will be mailed within 3 weeks of course completion.

 

 A re-certification course is available after successfully completing the GBHU food handler certification course within the past 5 years. Eligible individuals can contact the Health Unit at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 to obtain a copy of the Food Handler Certification manual upon receipt of $25.00 (includes HST). This includes the exam fee.  An appointment needs to be made by contacting the Heath Unit at the above number to set up the exam date and time. The exam should be no more than 30 days after receipt of the Food Handler Certification manual. The exam is closed book of 50 multiple choice with a pass mark of 70%. Successful individuals will receive a certification that is valid for a period of five years and a wallet card.

 

Grey Bruce Health Unit courses are nonrefundable; substitutions may be accepted.

 

2024 Registration Form

 

Home-study Learning Options

Once you have completed one of the two (2) options below you will then need to contact the Health Unit at 1-800-263-3456 to schedule a date for your exam. The cost associated with writing the each exam attempt is $25.00.

  1. Home-study Online Manual
  2. Purchase Home-study Printed Manual
    • You maypick up a copy of the manual from the Grey Bruce Health Unit office for $25.00, this will also cover the fee for the exam.
    • Included with the manual is a printout of the ‘Food Handler Training Home-Study Review’ questions, which we recommend you complete prior to writing the exam. Submit review questions email publichealth@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca, fax 519-376-6310, or you may bring them in with you on the day of your exam.

 

Exam

A minimum grade of 70% must be achieved on a standardized closed book multiple choice exam in order to obtain your food handler certificate.

Picture ID is required to take the exam. This certificate is accepted by all health units in Ontario and is valid for five (5) years.

What Topics Are Covered in this Course?

  • Introduction to Food Safety and Legislation
  • Food-borne Illness
  • Microorganisms
  • Conditions Bacteria Require for Growth
  • Allergens
  • Safe Food Handling
  • Understanding Cross-contamination
  • Receiving and Storage
  • Safe Food Service
  • Food Handler Hygiene
  • Cleaning and Sanitizing
  • Pest Control
  • Keeping Food Safe During Emergencies
  • HACCP Food Safety Management

 

Accredited Food Handler Certification Program

For information on accredited food safety courses that are accepted as equivalent to the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (MOHLTC), please visit the MOHLTC website at https://www.ontario.ca/page/food-handler-training-and-certification

The Grey Bruce Health Unit will only accept certificates issued by an accredited external provider AFTER the date they were deemed equivalent.

 

 

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