‘Tis the season to be jolly – so why spoil it with a case of food poisoning from the holiday party buffet? This time of year, your schedule will fill up pretty quickly with family gatherings and office parties, and at some point you’ll probably get an invitation to a potluck, for which you’ll be expected to supply a dish. Instead of making one of the many common cooking errors and bringing something that will make everyone sick, why not follow this handy guide – and stay happy and healthy throughout the whole holiday season? Handling the Food Though it.. READ MORE »
Taking a plane to visit grandparents in Florida, or a sibling living overseas can be a fun way to spend your holidays. However, be aware that travelling during the winter makes us particularly vulnerable to the flu. With so many people sick during the winter season, germs can collect quickly in enclosed areas like trains, buses or planes. So what’s your everyday traveller supposed to do to keep their immune system on lock-down while travelling, and avoid arriving sick at their destination? We’ve got everything you need to know about staying healthy while on the go. Bring Hand Sanitizer Even.. READ MORE »
Experts in food safety training believe that the HACCP certification first originated from WW2 artillery shell testing. Today, hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) is used as a preventative tool to ensure food safety, helping professionals anticipate risks along stages of the food chain including packaging and distribution. Workers in the retail food supply chain, such as manufacturers or packagers will often be required to obtain HACCP certification to ensure proper risk-assessment. This may include workers in the meat and seafood industries, and fascinatingly – even those who produce and package space food. Whether you’re planning to obtain your.. READ MORE »
The term “Mediterranean diet” was first coined in 1980 after an academic-lead investigation of cardiovascular death rates in different parts of the world. While the US and Finland held high rates of cardiovascular disease, regions in Greece and Southern Italy had very low rates. After surveying the lifestyles of these regions, it was determined that diet was the greatest factor contributing to improved life expectancy. The Mediterranean diet has since been found to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and has also been successful for weight loss. What is a “Mediterranean” Diet? We hear the term on.. READ MORE »
In Canada alone, there are approximately 250 food recalls each year. Although some of these incidents are labelled as low risk, others have the potential to spread serious illnesses like E. coli, listeria and salmonella. As consumers, it’s important to stay informed about any food products that carry health risks—a fairly simple task given today’s excessive media coverage, accessible easily via TV, computers and cell phones. But did you ever wonder how an item gets recalled in the first place? Who identifies the safety threat? Who gets products removed from store shelves? Keep reading to find out everything you.. READ MORE »
As a restaurant chain existing since 1940 and serving 86 million customers every day, McDonald’s certainly has a reputation—both good and bad. In recent years, this reputation has begun to dwindle with the release of documentaries like “Supersize Me” posing serious questions about the health effects of the restaurant’s food. As our attitude (and education about) food evolves, McDonald’s must try even harder to win over customers who are far more likely to exchange burgers and fries for green beans and quinoa. Last year, the company saw a 1.5% dip in sales, following a 0.2% dip from the year before… READ MORE »
Maybe you’re a culinary student who needs their food handler certificate in order to start a restaurant, or work as a chef. Perhaps you have a desire to work in food manufacturing, where you will manage how the food is brought from farms to dining tables. Receiving training in food safety and handling can open up several different career paths for you, some in typical food handling roles but others in inspection and quality assurance. If you’ve been wondering what types of jobs are available out there in food handling and safety, then look no further. Possible Careers Food is.. READ MORE »
Every year, around 4 million Canadians fall victim to food borne illness. Signs of sickness may set in right away – or take weeks to show themselves. And symptoms range from abdominal pain and vomiting, to disorientation, organ failure, and if untreated even death. With so much of our food undergoing extensive transport, processing, and handling, it makes sense that food safety training would be of the utmost concern to health officials, producers, and consumers. In 2006, Toronto city council passed a Food Handler by-law that makes it necessary for owner/operators of food establishments to have at least one supervisor.. READ MORE »
On August 20, McDonald’s was compelled to shut down four of its Moscow restaurants amid reports of alleged food safety violations. The Rospotrebnadzor agency, a Russian watchdog organization, ordered the closures, claiming it identified several breaches of food safety certification at four separate chains. The closings include the first McDonald’s location to be opened in Russia, near Pushkin Square, which is the largest in the country, as well as one near the Kremlin. In total, the international chain has over 400 outlets in Russia, and has been in operation across the country for the past 24 years. Serious Charges Rospotrebnadzor has.. READ MORE »
Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is known for its wacky “franken-foods” – enthusiasts come from far and wide to enjoy the latest deep-fried and fast food creations. But last year, things went too far when more than 200 fairgoers were sickened by contaminated cronut burgers. It was revealed that the distributors of the much-anticipated treat failed to follow basic food safety training protocols, which resulted in the growth of staphylococcus aureus, a well-known food borne offender. Toronto Public Health said the cause of the contamination was likely poor refrigeration. The burger was later voluntarily pulled off the menu of all.. READ MORE »
