Food safety education: Overview
Learn about Health Canada's role in food safety education, and what resources are available to improve food safety.
On this page
Health Canada's role in food safety education
Health Canada leads federal food safety risk communication activities. It promotes prevention behaviours, such as safe food handling, outside of outbreak periods. It shares information to help the Canadian population make healthier and safer food choices to:
- maintain good health
- prevent chronic and acute food-related illness and disease
Many foodborne illnesses can be prevented by following basic safe food handling practices and avoiding high-risk foods.
Health Canada is increasing outreach and education efforts to help address various food safety knowledge and behaviour gaps.
We created an interdepartmental education working group to:
- foster collaboration
- ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to educating consumers and stakeholders on food safety
The working group uses new approaches to influence attitudes and behaviours of people related to food safety.
As part of our next steps, Health Canada is developing resources to improve food safety education and awareness.
Food safety education resources
Food safety course for health professionals and educators
This online, science-based food safety course provides health professionals and educators with current and accurate information. The course is designed to give health professionals and educators a solid foundation about food safety to more effectively educate their clients, students and consumers.
The audience for this course is health professionals and educators. However, anyone with an interest in food safety is welcome to take this course.
Coming soon
Food safety course for school-aged children
These classroom-ready food safety resource kits support teaching safe food practices to children aged 9 to 13. These kits were developed in collaboration with an educational specialist.
The resources kits, while cross-curricular, focus on health and wellness, language arts and science.
These resources fill existing gaps and respond to both student and educator needs.
Coming soon
Food safety awareness resources
These resources are aimed at educating at risk groups in safe food handling practices to help promote safety in the kitchen. In addition, there are also resources to help reinforce food safe preparation of meals. The awareness resources for food safety for vulnerable populations are available online and can be ordered if printed distribution is preferred.
Online videos, such as "Teach your kids safe cooking habits" are available to provide quick reminders about safe food handling habits.
Safe food handling tips
Videos
For more information, please contact the Food Directorate's Bureau of Microbial Hazards at: bmh-bdm@hc-sc.gc.ca
Page details
- Date modified: