Food Safety Training in Edmonton is very important for food service workers and food establishments in Edmoton, Alberta. The Alberta public health authorities are strict when it comes to training, because the Alberta Public Health Act on Food Regulation requires a number of employees to have certificates in food safety and sanitation. If you have been asked by your employer to get trained or if you simply want to learn about safe food service, then visit us at Edmonton First Aid to smooth out the details of your enrollment!
Signing up
Signing up for a class is easy. We have several courses available in Edmonton First Aid, primarily dealing with food safety, first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If you are interested in training with us, you can sign up using the online form on our website. There is a list of classes and schedules available on the site so you can make all your decisions online.
Likewise, we encourage prospective students to sign up using the method most convenient for them – e-mail, telephone call, or in person. We process all requests during business hours so expect replies from our staff during that time.
Studying Food Safety Training in Edmonton
Food safety training at Edmonton First Aid is focused on safe food handling by food service workers (called frontline service workers). Supervisors are also asked to train in food safety, but their focus is more on management and planning for the food establishments. The food handling process starts from food preparation and ends in service or storage. Safely handling food during this time prevents the contamination of pathogens and dangerous substances that consumers can ingest.
The purpose of safe food handling is to decrease the incidence of foodborne illness. Foodborne illnesses are quite numerous, but their symptoms are not at all varied. Common symptoms of foodborne illness are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and cramps.
Your training certificate
Training certificates for food safety do not expire in Alberta; however, food service workers (supervisory and frontline workers) need to get updates every five years (or earlier!). Updates cover the essentials of food safety and teach new information and skills.
Getting started: Viruses
While food is usually contaminated by pathogens and chemicals, viruses can also infect other people through food. If an infected person doesn’t practice proper infection control, the microbes can end up on the food that is served or sold to customers. They in turn get infected by the virus and become sick themselves.
Controlling the spread of microbes:
- Proper hand hygiene, that includes both hand washing and hand rubbing.
- Washing all produce thoroughly.
- Using safe water in the preparation of food and hand washing.
- Cooking food thoroughly.
- Wearing a mask and using gloves during food preparation.
If you are sick but can still work, do wear a mask and gloves when preparing food. Do not push yourself to work if you are very infectious, as you may cause other people to get sick, not just customers but also your co-workers.