Food-borne Illness is when contaminated food or water is consumed. Contamination can occur from food, the environment, or from the food handler either directly or indirectly. Food-borne illness can be devastating to the person affected and to the establishment implicated. It can cost thousands of dollars and may even result in death.

DID YOU KNOW:

Four million Canadians suffer from food-borne illness and receive medical attention EACH YEAR! (Health Canada)

Talking about the previous year, over 11,600 people were hospitalized in Canada due to foodborne diseases while 238 people were reported dead. There are various types of bacteria, parasites, and viruses that are responsible for most illnesses. And the most common reason behind foodborne diseases is either improper food handling or improperly cooked food that resulted in cross contamination.

A High Price To Pay

The cost of a food-borne illness occurring at an establishment is a high price to pay. Here are just a few negative outcomes that result in food-borne illnesses:

• Negative media exposure
• Possible lawsuits and legal fees
• Insurance premiums
• Staff missing work
• Cost of re-training staff
• Decrease in customer sales
• Bad reputation
• Decrease staff morale

Being a food service manager, food handler, or hotel owner comes with great responsibilities that one must understand as these individuals make a direct impact on the overall health and well-being of customers. One of the most important responsibilities to take care of is keeping the food you serve safe. You simply can’t afford not to. After all, you would not want people to get sick after eating at your place. This will not just result in a penalty from the food department, but can also result in damage to your image. Even a minor case of foodborne illness due to your served food can cost an operation thousands of dollars or even result in closure. So, if you are a hotel owner, manager, or food handler, it is good to understand the importance of a food safety certification. Here are a few reasons why you must take a food safety training course.

Protection from foodborne illnesses – The prime benefit of food safety certification is that it helps protect consumers of food products from foodborne diseases. It is only with the proper food safety measures you can ensure the safety of people who trust your business.

Reduced cost from food safety issues – An important reason why you must invest in food safety training is that you can prevent any kind of instance when unsafe food is served to your customers. For customers, proper food safety practices can reduce costly health care expenses.

Food-borne illness do not usually get reported because it resolves itself within a few days. However, there are members of our population that can be severely affected by food-borne illnesses, including young children, pregnant women, seniors and individuals with compromised/weakened immune systems. For some susceptible people, a food-borne illness may result in death.

Make to get a proper food safety certification.