Why Food Safety?
Why Food Safety?...just ask any of the more than 2,000,000 (million) Canadians that come down with foodborne illness every year. Foodborne illness, more commonly called food poisoning costs Canadians 1.3 million dollars each year, not to mention the pain and suffering people experience with symptoms ranging from:
| Nausea | Weight Loss | Confusion |
| Diarrhea | Muscular Stiffness | Spasms |
| Headache | Jaundice | Laboured Breathing |
| Vomiting | Prostration | Burning sensation in back of neck, forearms, chest |
| Fever | Sore Throat | Feeling of tightness, tingling, flushing |
| Loss of Appetite | Visual Difficulty | Difficulty with swallowing, speaking, breathing |
| Cramps | Dry Mouth | Sometimes Fatal |
| Chills | Dizziness |
In Canada, approximately 30 people die each year from consuming contaminated food or water.
Foodborne illness is very serious, particularly for the very young, the elderly and those who have poor health or weakened immune systems. AND THAT'S NOT THE HALF OF IT! Foodborne illness is under-reported. For every one case reported to public health officials, an estimated 350 cases go unreported.
It is also estimated that 2% of those effected by foodborne illness results in long term health effects such as food intolerances, arthritis, cardiac problems or chronic diarrhea. Many of the reported illness are a result of eating foods that have been improperly handled in our public eating establishments.
A single outbreak of foodborne illness from a restaurant can result in ruined reputations, legal fees, medical claims, lost employee wages, discarded food supplies and lost revenue. There is also the expense of bad publicity and the risk of being closed by the local health authority. People who work in restaurants, catering operations, institutional kitchens, bake shops, slaughter houses, butcher shops, food processing facilities, food stores, day cares, nursing homes, or serve food at public events are encouraged to have food safety training.
Because of the resulting sicknesses associated with food poisonings, the Saskatchewan Government has brought in legislation to help prevent food poisoning.
Foodborne illness is not limited to restaurants meals. Think about it, everyone handles food in their own home and sometimes mistakes are made. These mistakes often result in foodborne illness. Make sure your food is safe and take a Food Safety 1st food safety training course.
Food Safety 1st has a successful training and certification program for everyone!
Food Safety 1st courses are Nationally recognized and Provincially accredited.
Food Safety just makes sense...Safer Food and Healthier People.