Food safety training: mandatory or not?
Why there is a need for Winnipeg Food Safety Certification? In the city of Winnipeg, there is no regulation mandating all food service workers to train in food safety and sanitation. So what are programs are providers touting as a “must” for food service workers? Training providers in Winnipeg, including us at Winnipeg First Aid, offer the required training program for all food service workers working in a food establishment. This program is called a Certified Food Handling course.
According the Winnipeg Food Service Bylaw, all food establishments are required to abide by the following stipulation:
- An operator cannot open a food business without completing a Certified Food Handling course.
- In an establishment where there is less than five employees, there has to be at least one staff member who has completed a Certified Food Handling course.
- In an establishment where there is more than four employees, there has to be at least one staff member with completed Certified Food Handling training on duty at all times (in a regular three-shift workday, a certified staff member has to be present during all shifts).
- If a food establishment is unable to abide by these regulations (and other sections in the bylaw), they will not be given a health permit/license by the Winnipeg Public Health Inspector.
Winnipeg Food Safety Certification and Sanitation
Winnipeg Food Safety Certification and sanitation in the food handling process is the focus of a Certified Food Handler course at Winnipeg First Aid. If you are enrolling in our training program, expect the following topics to be discussed during the eight-hour course (completed over one day).
- Basics of microbiology
- Most common foodborne illnesses, causes, and prevention/management
- Personal hygiene and health practice
- Food service and display skills
- Safe food preparation (cooking, cleaning, etc.)
- Factors affecting food packaging and storage
- Housekeeping and general maintenance of the facility
When food is properly handled, there is a decreased risk of contamination (of food) and therefore a decreased incidence of foodborne illness – the goal of training food service workers in an establishment. Even if the bylaw only requires at least one certified staff member, it is the responsibility of the establishment to train the rest of its staff in food safety.
Training rates, enrollment, and certification
Our full training program (course, exam, workbook) is around 100 dollars. Students can opt out of the classroom-type experience and simply buy the workbook. Exams can be taken separately for a fee. Upon completion of the course and passing the exam, we award students with a training credential for food safety and sanitation. Since our course is one of the few endorsed by the local health authorities, any training credential we award students are valid all over the city of Winnipeg.
Interested students can sign up on the Winnipeg First Aid website. There is an online application form available (note: You fill it up online; it is not downloadable), along with our contact information. You can also mail in your application form, or enroll via e-mail or over the telephone. Be sure to finalize all details by visit our training location before classes start.