Nanaimo First Aid offers two levels of food safety and sanitation, according to the British Columbia Public Health Act on Food Premises Regulation. The program in food safety, called FOODSAFE all over the province, was created by the BC Center for Disease Control and funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labor Market Development. If you need training and certification in food safety and sanitation, head over to Nanaimo First Aid or our website to get started on your enrollment.
Enrollment methods with Food Safety in Nanaimo
To make the educational experience very convenient for all our prospective students, we have several enrollment methods available. Among our younger students, we have an online form on the website that is available 24 hours out of the day. Students may also send in person and class information through e-mail or over the telephone. We encourage students to visit us in person as well.
Study food safety at Nanaimo First Aid
FOODSAFE training has two levels, the first being a prerequisite of the second. Both levels are targeted towards different audiences while covering the same basic concepts. The curricula is based on the concept of safe food handling. Handling starts from the first moment food is touched a staff member and ends in packaging or service. If at any point of the process, food is contaminated, it can become ingested by a consumer and lead to a case of foodborne illness.
The first level of food safety training is for “frontline” service workers, or members of the staff who are responsible for directly handling food. Workers are taught skills in infection control and proper work safety and sanitation to ensure that food is safe for public consumption. FOODSAFE level 1 is eight hours long and costs 110 dollars
The second level of food safety is for supervisory staff, such as the owners and managers. Basic concepts of safe food handling are still covered in this level but is no longer the emphasis of training. The curriculum is focused more on planning and management rather than orientation with skill traning. FOODSAFE level 2 is twelve hours long and costs 165 dollars.
Note: Your training certificate will be awarded to you upon complete of the class and passing all the examinations. Certificates in food safety and sanitation are only valid for five years after issuance in the province of British Columbia. Renewal of expired credentials may be done through refresher courses (3 hours long), as long as the student gets an 80 percent or higher on the exam after.
What the WHO has to say about foodborne illness
Each year, diarrheal diseases kill 2.2 million people in the world. In Canada alone, it is estimated that 4.5 million people are affected each year – and these don’t even include cases that aren’t reported to the local health authorities. The implications of what a simple stomach flu which becomes severe is vast, especially since there is still no formal database on foodborne illnesses. Because foodborne conditions are largely preventable, emphasis on food safety and awareness on FBIs is one of WHOs main goals.