Food safety training is mandated by the British Columbia Health Authorities in Surrey. There are many providers in Surrey that offer FOODSAFE training, and we have our own right in the hustle and bustle of the city. There are two levels involved in FOODSAFE training. The first for service workers and the second for administrative staff of food establishments.
FOODSAFE training is one of the many requirements for establishments that prepare, sell, and handle food. The public health act that regulates food premises requires that an employee trained in FOODSAFE be present in every shift. This means that while not all workers are required to be trained in food safety, several of them have formal training and certification.
Foodborne Illness
Diarrhea, a complication of foodborne illnesses, kills 2.2 million people each year. These illnesses typically stem from improperly handled food, causing dangerous bacteria to be ingested by consumers. If proper handling and sanitation guidelines are not followed in the preparation of the food product, it can cause widespread disease and even death. Those who live in underdeveloped countries (third world) are the hardest hit by this kind of disease. People in rural areas have poor access to clean food and water, and even more so health care.
Food Safe Certification for Food Safety Training in Surrey
The main objective of food safety training is to ensure that the food being prepared, served, sold, or handled in a food establishment is safe for public consumption. Unsafe food that is handled incorrectly can cause foodborne illnesses to infect a large number of people, especially if food served or sold is prepared in large batches.
FOODSAFE training focuses on proper food storage, preparation, serving, and sanitation. The first level deals mainly with skills because it is targeted at first-line service workers. The second level focuses more on management and overall safety and sanitation of the establishment, hence, it is targeted towards owners, managers, and administrative staff.
Note: Only trainees who have finished first level training can take the second level training.
- Level 1 – 8 hours, $110
- Level 2 – 12 hours, $165
- FOODSAFE by correspondence – $85 (plus $25 for a 2 month extension)
Certification and refreshers
Certificates in FOODSAFE training are valid for five years before they expire. Update classes called refreshers are offered in our provider in Surrey, allowing students to update their food safety skills and get a new certificate. The update class can be taken even if your certificate is still valid and you wish to merely update yourself. Refreshers are 3 hours long.
Did You Know?
In order to operate a food service establishment, here are some important bits of information:
- A permit from a health officer is needed by the food establishment.
- The owner has to apply to a health officer and provide all the requirements needed by the said officer.
- The health officer can refuse to issue a permit to an owner he or she deems unsuitable to operate a food service establishment.
- Permits are non-transferable, even if the establishments are owned by the same owner or are part of the same franchise.
- All issued permits must be displayed conspicuously in the establishment.