Food Safety Certification Courses

Why take a Food Safety Course?

Recently in the Grey Bruce area, we have seen several serious food contaminations leading to illnesses.  With proper food handling, these could have been avoided.  Food safety knowledge will help you protect the health of your customers and the reputation of your food premise.

Who should attend a Food Safety Course?

Everyone should take the Food Safety Course, both staff and owners of food premises.  It is likely that the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care will soon require that at least one certified food handler be at a food premise at all times.

Food Safety Certification Courses (offered locally)

The Grey Bruce Health Unit periodically offers food safety certification courses at various locations throughout the area.  A schedule listing when and where food safety courses are available is posted on this website and will be updated to reflect any changes or new courses. 

The food safety certification course is 12 hours long in total and meets the requirements of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for Safe Food Handling Certification.  Topics covered include safe food handling, hazardous foods, basic microbiology and food poisoning, introduction to HACCP, personal hygiene, sanitation and cleaning, pest control, food allergies and basic nutrition.

The fee for the course is $85 per person, which includes HST. (For groups of 10 or more from one food premise or facility, contact the Health Unit for group fees).  You will receive the 12 hours of training, a training workbook, a metal stem probe thermometer, chlorine test strips, certificate and wallet card. The certification is valid for a period of five years.  A re-certification course is currently being created so that every five years a shorter “refresher” course can be taken.

Registration Form

“In Good Hands” Food Safety Certification Course (offered online)

In Good Hands is recognized by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care as a food safety course that meets the requirements for Safe Food Handling Certification.  It is offered online, covers the same material as the course offered locally and provides the opportunity to work through the course at your own pace. 

The course consists of 15 modules on food safety.  Once you have completed all of the modules and quizzes, you can write an exam in person at your local Health Unit.  Successful completion of the course and exam means that you will become a certified food handler.

The fee for this course is $25 for the online portion plus a variable fee for the exam costs, which is $12 including HST.  A certificate will be provided by Public Health upon completion of the course. 

If you would like more information or would like to register for this online course, go to the In Good Hands website at www.ingoodhands.ca