Canada has several laws in place that set safety standards for food businesses. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency enforces the Food and Drugs Act and Safe Food for Canadians Act, which must strictly be followed by restaurant and food business owners. Meanwhile, in Ontario, provincial laws are set by the Ontario Food Premises Regulation.

As a restaurant owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your employees have received food safety certificates in Ontario. Food safety is not only essential for compliance with the law—more importantly, but it also helps protect your business, staff, and customers. Plus, you can avoid hefty fines, prosecution, and inventory confiscation. The worst that could happen to your business due to noncompliance is the suspension of your license.

Practicing food safety can significantly benefit your food business. Your customer’s trust and brand reputation will significantly increase once people know that you are service clean food. Additionally, your employees will thank you for enrolling them in such an informative food safety course.

Inspectors visit restaurants every few months to check if you are complying with safety regulations. These experts have the authority to enter your premises any time, take samples of food, and issue notices and fines. They also hold the power to close your business immediately if they discover something wrong. That’s why you need to maintain proper food safety.

It Reduces the Risk of Foodborne Illnesses

Food safety and food handling certification are one of the best ways to allow your team members to have the skills to carefully and safely handle food at a restaurant or food manufacturing unit. It helps prevent various types of foodborne illnesses, keeping your food business reputation intact. Many of these potential food hazards carry serious consequences. The two most common health risks are:

• food-borne illness
• food allergies

In a recent report by Health Canada, it was found that over 4 million Canadians are affected by food-borne illness every year, which makes it 1 in every 8 Canadians. Apart from this, more than 11,000 people are admitted to hospitals due to foodborn diseases and over 200 of them die every year. As an owner of a food business or a manager, it is important that you understand the importance of building and nurturing a workplace environment where safe food handling practices are incorporated and carefully followed by the team members.

How can you obtain food safety certificates in Ontario? First, you need to find an excellent online training course that teaches the fundamentals of food safety. There are top-rated training companies that offer engaging and innovative programs for an affordable price. Your employees will learn the dos and don’ts of handling food, practicing personal hygiene, and cleaning and sanitizing the kitchen.

After completion, your staff will receive certificates that ensure they have received the proper safety knowledge and skills to apply in a food business.