Food Handler Certification Program

Middlesex-London Health Unit
Oct 1, 2011

Food handler training provides the knowledge needed to safely prepare food and enhance food safety in a food premises. In the City of London, the mandatory certification of Food Handlers will come into effect on October 1, 2011, and in Middlesex County on January 1, 2012.



The Food Premises Inspection and Mandatory Food Handler Certification By-law states:

The operator of a food premises where hazardous food is prepared must ensure that there is at all times, when the food premises is operating, at least one Certified Food Handler who is supervising the preparation, processing, packaging, service or storage of food. (Hazardous food means any food capable of supporting the growth of pathogenic organisms or the production of toxins, more commonly known as perishable food). 

Program Background
The Food Handler Certification Program is designed to teach food handlers the general principles of safe food handling. This course will provide the food handler with knowledge that can be used to identify risk factors associated with food borne illness as well as skills necessary to handle food in a manner that will prevent illness from occurring. The course is based on the principles of sanitary food service and hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) procedures.

Upon successful completion, a Middlesex-London Health Unit Food Handler Certificate will be issued. This certificate meets mandatory food safety training requirements and is recognized by all health units in Ontario. The certificate is valid for 5 years.

Course topics covered include:

s Role of the Public Health Inspector and Public Health Legislation 
s Food Microbiology and Food Allergies 
s Temperature Control, Cross-Contamination and Personal Hygiene 
s Cleaning and Sanitizing 
s Pest Control 
s Introduction to HACCP