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.
Food Premises Regulation, O. Reg 493/17, requires a certified food handler onsite during every hour in whch the premises is operating.
The Grey Bruce Health Unit 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. Please see the Ministry of Health for online options. The schedule can be found under the Food Safety Course Schedule section of the website. For more information please contact the Health Unit at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456.
The food safety certification course is one day 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 $50.00 per person, which includes HST. You will receive the 1 day of training, a training workbook, a metal stem probe thermometer, chlorine test strips. At the end of the course there will be a closed book exam of 50 multiple choice questions, the pass mark is 70%. Individuals must attend the full day of training and pass the exam in order to receive their certification. Successful individuals will receive a certification that is valid for a period of five years and a wallet card. Certification and wallet card will be mailed within 3 weeks of course completion.
A re-certification course is available after successfully completing the GBHU food handler certification course within the past 5 years. Eligible individuals can contact the Health Unit at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 to obtain a copy of the Food Handler Certification manual upon receipt of $25.00 (includes HST). This includes the exam fee. An appointment needs to be made by contacting the Heath Unit at the above number to set up the exam date and time. The exam should be no more than 30 days after receipt of the Food Handler Certification manual. The exam is closed book of 50 multiple choice with a pass mark of 70%. Successful individuals will receive a certification that is valid for a period of five years and a wallet card.
Grey Bruce Health Unit courses are nonrefundable; substitutions may be accepted.
2025 Registration Form
Once you have completed one of the two (2) options below you will then need to contact the Health Unit at 1-800-263-3456 to schedule a date for your exam. The cost associated with writing the each exam attempt is $25.00.
A minimum grade of 70% must be achieved on a standardized closed book multiple choice exam in order to obtain your food handler certificate.
Picture ID is required to take the exam. This certificate is accepted by all health units in Ontario and is valid for five (5) years.
What Topics Are Covered in this Course?
For information on accredited food safety courses that are accepted as equivalent to the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (MOHLTC), please visit the MOHLTC website at https://www.ontario.ca/page/food-handler-training-and-certification
The Grey Bruce Health Unit will only accept certificates issued by an accredited external provider AFTER the date they were deemed equivalent.
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