Ontario Health Protection and Promotion
Why there is a need for Food Safety Training in Ottawa? Food safety programs are very popular in Ontario because of the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
This act as drafted by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in the province, aiming to improve food safety practices in Ontario’s food facilities and establishments. Improvements in food safety imply a decrease in foodborne illness cases in Ottawa and the rest of Ontario.
The Health Protection and Promotion Act specifically requires that the food safety worker trains in a provider that is approved by the city’s local health authorities. Ottawa First Aid is approved by the Ontario health authorities in providing food safety and sanitation training in the city. We have a variety of programs available to students, the most popular being our food safety course.
Enrollment
Enrolling in a training program at Ottawa First Aid can be completed on our website. We have an form you can fill out online, not just downloaded, but actually completed and submitted on the website. After you click the submit button, your request will immediately be sent to us. However, expect a reply during business hours only (same with e-mails and telephone calls).
Food Safety Training in Ottawa
Food safety training at Ottawa First Aid focuses on teaching students how to properly (and therefore safely) handle food. This ensures that any food product that is served or sold in stores or restaurants is safe for public consumption. A safe food handling process is made up concepts and skills in hand hygiene, housekeeping, cooking, packaging, storing, and serving food.
We have two levels of food safety training available to students: (1) basic food safety and (2) advanced food safety. Basic food safety training in an introductory program that lasts for one day, completed in eight hours. Advanced food safety training takes two days to complete, in sixteen hours.
Advanced food safety is meant for management and supervisory staff, with curriculum focused on food facility management. It teach students the ins and outs of running a food establishments – from needed requirements to workflow in the actual facility. This is quite important for people looking to start a business in the food industry.
Note: You are required to have a level 1 training credential before take the level 2 advanced program.
Safe from bacteria
Safe food preparation ensures that whatever a food facility serves or sells to the public is safe to be eaten – meaning it will not infect the consumer with foodborne illness. There are different foodborne illnesses that can infect humans, but their signs and symptoms are usually very similar – nausea, vomiting, stomach pain/cramps, and diarrhea.
While bacteria are the most common culprits that contaminate food, the leading cause of foodborne illness is actually a virus – the Norovirus, which is responsible for about 58 percent of total foodborne illness cases. The rest of the top 5 spots are rounded up by (2) Clostridium perfringens, (3) Campylobacter spp., (4) Salmonella (expect S. typhi), (5) Staphylococcus aureus.
With enough rest and hydration, most foodborne illness cases resolve on their own (self limiting).