Mandatory food handler certification

Under Ontario Regulation 493/17 – Food Premises (external link) and By-law No. 163-11 (PDF file), all food service premises are required to have at least one certified food handler onsite during all hours of operation.

A food service premises is defined as any establishment where meals or meal portions are prepared for immediate consumption or are sold or served in a form that allows immediate consumption either onsite or offsite.

Examples of food service premises include restaurants, cafeterias, and take-out establishments, as well as banquet halls, childcare centres, supermarkets, recreational camps and special event food vendors.

Becoming a certified food handler

The benefits of becoming a certified food handler include:

• Reducing food-borne illness (e.g., food poisoning)
• Increasing your knowledge and understanding of safe food handling practices
• Increasing the quality of your business.

What is a Food Handler Certificate?

A Food Handler Certificate verifies that an individual has successfully completed approved training in safe food handling and passed a recognized exam. Certification is valid for five years and must be renewed upon expiry. During inspections, Public Health Inspectors may request to see a valid certificate to confirm compliance with provincial regulations.

Training and Certification Providers

To obtain certification, individuals can register with one of the Ontario Ministry of Health-Approved Food Handler Training Programs at the following link:

Ontario Ministry of Health – Approved Food Handler Training Providers (external link) – A comprehensive list of recognized training organizations offering in-person and online options.

These training providers meet the standards set by the Ministry of Health and are accepted by all public health units across Ontario.