As a student in food safety, you’ll learn about the different concepts underlying and influencing food quality. These include food sanitation, food processing, food inspection, and food infection. Professionals in the food safety industry use a variety of methods to ensure that food is safe to consume and free from contaminants. The existence of microorganisms in food needs to be monitored and controlled. These naturally occurring living things are what cause food to spoil or become inedible, and their presence is affected by environmental factors in production, transportation, and storage. Predictive microbiology is a method that seeks to analyze and.. READ MORE »
Enzymes are something many people do not think about, but they are interacting and reacting in organisms all the time. They are produced naturally in animals and plants,and they play an important role in many biochemical processes that we rely on to get nutrients every day. What does this have to do with food handling? The history and development of how enzymes are used in the production and processing of food has been an important component of manufacturing in the food industry. For example, to create some household staples, such as cheese or bread, enzymes from other animals, plants, or.. READ MORE »
In 2019, Food Allergy Canada launched the National Food Allergy Action Plan. This initiative is aimed at guiding policies that will improve quality of life for Canadians with food allergies. The current available estimate is that 1 in 13 Canadians self-report having an allergy, which amounts to approximately 2.5 million people who would benefit from such policies. How are these allergies dealt with in Canada? Canada has what are called “priority food allergens”. These refer to the list of foods associated with 90 percent of allergic reactions and there are labelling requirements for them. While many allergies may be familiar.. READ MORE »
On January 15, 2019, the new Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) went into effect and they apply to many businesses that export food across provincial or international borders. It’s an important milestone in food safety, and it’s meant to improve safety even further, while also adding in several other benefits to businesses. Let’s take a look at why the SFCR is important, why it’s being implemented, and what the changes mean for food businesses and your career. The SFCR Is Designed to Standardize Food Safety Regulations Previously, 14 sets of regulations governed the food industry, such as Meat Inspection.. READ MORE »
A salmonella outbreak damages the reputation of food producers and restaurants, so bacterial prevention is a key focus during food handling certificate studies.
Mastering the dos and don’ts of safe food storage is a must for those with a food handling certificate. Learn the secrets behind storing foods safely.
Ever since the days of venturing to the far north, cutting huge blocks of ice from the ground and water, and hauling that ice down south to stock in iceboxes, refrigeration has been important to food safety. As technology and research have progressed to the plug-in refrigerators with adjustable cooling that we know today, we’ve steadily learned more about how best to prolong the life of foods through refrigeration, and use the technology to transport and store goods safely. Without question, refrigeration is one of the essential technologies for the modern food industry. Want to learn a bit more? Here.. READ MORE »
Currently, the trading relationship between Canada and the United States is the largest in the world. In 2014 alone there were $26.2 billion in agriculture and agri-food products imported to Canada from the U.S. This massive amount of trade requires similar food inspection standards and systems to ensure the safety of citizens on either side of the border. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signed an agreement with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada, which confirms that food safety standards and systems in both countries are comparable, leading to the facilitation of trade, enhanced cooperation,.. READ MORE »
A food handling certificate is important for a career as a food plant and operations manager, a quality assurance manager, a chef, or any other role in a restaurant team. When working in a restaurant, your food handling certificate will give you the right knowledge to ensure that food is handled and prepared safely so that your restaurant passes its food inspection. The exact rules for food safety differ across Canada and can be handled by provincial governments, municipalities or regional health authorities. Toronto, for example, uses its own DineSafe regulation which adheres to both Ontario’s food safety regulations and.. READ MORE »
Knowing how to safely handle, store, and prepare foods is an important part of working in the food industry. By implementing proper safety procedures, you’ll be able to keep foods safe and prevent the spread of potentially harmful viruses, bacteria, prions, and other pathogens. These harmful pathogens can sometimes enter the food supply when proper safety procedures aren’t closely followed. While they can appear in everything from fresh leafy greens to fresh fruits, they are more likely to grow in foods that are rich in protein and moisture like dairy, eggs, and meats. Fortunately, you’ll quickly learn how to keep.. READ MORE »
