• To prevent or reduce the burden of food-borne illness.

• There is reduced incidence of food-borne illness.
• There is reduced exposure to food that is unfit for human consumption.
• Private and public food providers handle and manage food in a safe and sanitary manner.
• Food prepared in private homes is handled and managed in a safe and sanitary manner.
• Policies developed by community partners integrate safe food-handling practices.

• The board of health achieves timely and effective detection and identification of:
  • Food-borne illnesses;
  • Their associated risk factors and emerging trends; and
  • Unsafe food in food premises.
• The board of health mitigates food-borne illness risks
• The board of health is aware of and uses epidemiology to influence the development of healthy public policy and its programs and services to reduce the burden of food-borne illness of public health importance.
• Food handlers in food premises handle and manage food in a safe and sanitary manner.
• Community partners are aware of safe food-handling practices and food safety issues.
• The public is aware of safe food-handling practices and food safety issues.

1. The board of health shall conduct surveillance of:
   • Suspected and confirmed food-borne illnesses; and
   • Food premises

   in accordance with the Food Safety Protocol, 2008 (or as current) and the Population Health Assessment and Surveillance Protocol, 2008 (or as current).

2. The board of health shall conduct epidemiological analysis of surveillance data, including monitoring of trends over time, emerging trends, and priority populations, in accordance with the Population Health Assessment and Surveillance Protocol, 2008 (or as current).
3. The board of health shall report Food Safety Program data elements in accordance with the Food Safety Protocol, 2008 (or as current).

4. The board of health shall ensure food handlers in food premises have access to training in safe food-handling practices and principles in accordance with the Food Safety Protocol, 2008 (or as current).
5. The board of health shall increase public awareness of food-borne illnesses and safe food-handling practices and principles in accordance with the Food Safety Protocol, 2008 (or as current) by:
   1. Adapting and/or supplementing national and provincial food safety communications strategies; and/or
   2. Developing and implementing regional/local communications strategies.

6. The board of health shall ensure that the medical officer of health or designate is available on a 24/7 basis to receive reports of and respond to:
   • Suspected and confirmed food-borne illnesses or outbreaks;
   • Unsafe food handling practices, food recalls, adulteration, and consumer complaints; and
   • Food-related issues arising from floods, fires, power outages, or other situations that may affect food safety

   in accordance with the Health Protection and Promotion Act; the Food Safety Protocol, 2008 (or as current); the Infectious Diseases Protocol, 2008 (or as current); and the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Protocol, 2008 (or as current).

7. The board of health shall inspect food premises and provide all the components of the Food Safety Program within food premises as defined by the Health Protection and Promotion Act and in accordance with the Food Premises Regulation (O. Reg. 562); the Food Safety Protocol, 2008 (or as current); and all other applicable Acts.

The following external links have been compiled to help you access other health-related Web sites that are not maintained by the Ontario government. Please read our policy concerning external links.

1. Anaphylaxis Canada
2. Canadian Council of Food and Nutrition
3. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) (CAD)
4. Canadian Food Inspection System - Canadian National Food Issues (CAD)
5. Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education
6. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition - US Food and Drug Administration
7. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (USD)
8. FAO/WHO Food Standards - Codex Alimentarius Commission Home Page
9. FightBac.org - Partnership for Food Safety Education
10. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Expert Consultations on Food Safety and Pathogen Risk Assessments
11. FoodNet Ontario
12. Food Safety Network (FSNet) (associated with University of Guelph) (CAD)
13. Health Products and Food Branch - Health Canada
14. Institute of Food Science Technology (UK)
15. International Food Information Council
16. Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) - Food Safety Publications and Factsheets (CAD)
    • 4 Steps to Handling Food Safely: Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill
    • Publications: Food Safety
    • Safe Food Handling
    • Safe Food Handling Tips for Farmers' Market Managers, Leaders and Vendors
17. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)
    • Food Inspection and Industry Links
    • Food Safety Page
    • OMAFRA Home Page
18. The Food Safety Project - Iowa State University Extension
19. World Health Organization (WHO) - Meetings on Microbiological Risks