Food Safety
Health Canada estimates that there are eleven million cases of foodborne illness or food poisoning, in Canada each year.* Bacteria, viruses, parasites, mould and their toxins can live and/or grow in some foods, and cause food-borne illness. Common symptoms of food-borne illness can include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever or chills. Additional symptoms can include headaches, muscle pain and weakness.
For those at risk - infants and young children, pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems - food poisoning can result in very serious health problems.
Everyone who handles food, people preparing food at home for their family or food service operators serving customers, must take care to ensure food is handled and prepared safely. Food safety is everyone’s responsibility!
Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts
Health Canada helps protect Canadians from potential food-related hazards by providing consumers with critical information regarding food advisories, recalls and allergy alerts. Health Canada works with federal partners such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), as well as with local public health units and territorial authorities to notify the public of potentially dangerous foods.
Food producers, manufacturers, importers and retailers use many procedures to protect the safety of food. However, at times, a product may be sold that poses a food safety or a food allergy risk. When the CFIA becomes aware of a potential serious hazard associated with a food, the food product is recalled from the marketplace and a public warning is issued. Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts are posted on the CFIA website.
Related Information:
- Best Before and Expiration Dates on Foods
- Cook to proper temperatures
- Foodborne illness: Seniors at greater risk
- Food safety after a fire
- Food safety and the use of thermometers
- Food Safety Tips for Barbecuing
- Food Safety Tips for Emergencies - Power Outage
- Food Safety Tips for Fiddleheads
- Food Safety Tips for Reusable Grocery Bags and Bins
- Risks of Drinking Raw Milk
- Safe Handling of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
- Summer Food Safety
Other sources for food safety information:
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 562 FOOD PREMISES
- Ministry of Health and Long-term Care
- Service Ontario e-laws
*Food-Related Illnesses, viewed on-line February 15, 2011 (http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/ill-intox/index-eng.php)
Last updated: April 10, 2013