Food Safety Certification in Red Deer

Red Deer First Aid is a top provider of workplace, safety and food safety training courses in Red Deer, Alberta (click here to view the website). We work hand-in-hand with the local health authorities in Red Deer to provide food safety and sanitation courses to food service workers in the city. All food establishments in Alberta are governed by the Alberta Public Health Act on Food Regulation; at least those establishments that directly handle and prepare food (not just handling pre-packaged products).

We have a website with complete information on training for our prospective students looking for food safety certification. Because we want to make it easier for them to enroll in the class of their choice, we have made an enrollment form available online. You can submit information through the form, all processed during regular business hours.

Alberta Food Safety

Food safety courses in Red Deer, Alberta were created because of the food regulation public health act, specifically section 31. The act requires a number of staff members to be certified in food safety and sanitation, though not all.

  • One trained supervisory staff member present when there are more than five employees on duty.
  • One trained non-supervisory staff member present there are less than six employees working on duty.

Food safety encompasses the entire food handling process, from buying raw products to preparing and serving food. Infection control and sanitation are the main skills we teach our students, because the main causes of foodborne illness are pathogens and chemicals. Preventing foodborne illness is the main goal of training employees in food safety and sanitation. Courses that are targeted towards frontline workers focus on skill while those that are targeted towards supervisors focus on planning.

What are pathogens and chemicals than can make a person sick?

Like other infectious diseases, foodborne illness is most commonly caused by the ingestion of a microorganism. The most common microorganisms that infect humans are the (1) Norovirus, (2) Clostridium perfringens, (3) Campylobacter spp., (4) Salmonella, and (5) Staphylococcus aureus. The first one the list is actually responsible for more than half of the total number of cases in the world, despite being hard to diagnose.

Chemicals – particularly pesticides – cause food poisoning when ingested in large amounts. the symptoms are quite similar to a typical stomach flu – nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and abdominal cramps. This makes it hard to make a diagnosis based on clinical symptoms. Physicians usually request blood work to make a specific diagnosis.

Which establishments are covered by the Food Regulation act?

  • Bakeries
  • Bars/Lounges
  • Butcher shops
  • Cafeterias
  • Catering venues/kitchens
  • Delis
  • Stores that handle food directly (not pre-packed products)
  • Food trucks
  • Care facilities with 10 or more clients
  • Restaurants and similar eateries

Do I need to renew my certificate?

Training certificates do not have expiry dates. However, workers with credentials are expected to receive updated training at least five years after issuance. Update courses are offered at Red Deer First Aid as refreshers. They are typically shorter than regular training courses for supervisory and non-supervisory staff, lasting only a few hours in a single session.

Visit Red Deer First Aid today!