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!
Related Information:
- Best Before Date / Durable Life
- Buffet Busters
- Food Recalls - Allergy Alerts
- Food Safety Tips for Emergencies - Power Outage
- Risks of Drinking Raw Milk
- Safe Handling of Fresh Produce
- 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: February 28, 2011