News Release                   For Immediate Release

May 7, 2004

Food Safety Course in Southampton

We have recently seen serious food contaminations leading to illnesses in Grey-Bruce that could have been avoided.  Food safety knowledge in the industry is essential to protect the health of customers and the reputation of the establishments.  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.   For these reasons, the Public Health Unit is offering a Food Safety Certification Course in Southampton.

The Food Safety Certification Course is designed for staff and owners of food premises and anyone who works with food. The course will extend over four Mondays in June (June 7, 14, 21, and 28) from 7-10 p.m.  It will be in the Southampton Coliseum Green Room at 26 Albert Street.  The cost is $75 per person with discounted rates available for groups of 10 or more. 

The course fee includes 12 hours of training, a reference binder, the Sanitation Code for Canada’s Food Service Industry booklet, a metal stem probe thermometer, and chlorine test strips.  Topics covered include safe food handling, hazardous foods, food poisoning, and food allergies.  The certification is valid for 5 years.

To register for the course or for more information, please contact Karen Byars at 376-9420 ext. 226 or 1-800-263-3456 or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

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For more information:

Lou D’Alessandro

Manager, Health Protection

Grey Bruce Health Unit

376-9420 ext. 223