Safe Food Counts
The food supply in Canada is one of the safest in the world. However, Health Canada estimates there are still 11 to 13 million people in Canada who get a food-borne illness per year (CFIA, 2006). Medical costs and productivity losses from food-borne illness or food poisoning are estimated to be between 12 - 14 billion dollars each year (Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education).
As part of our mandate to reduce food-borne illnesses caused by a breach in food safety practices at food premises, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has developed a food safety disclosure program, Safe Food Counts (SFC). This program will apply to all food premises. A food premises is any place where you buy food, like a restaurant, convenience store, or grocery store.
Safe Food Counts will have many benefits for the public and for food premises.
The goals of SFC are to:
- Improve food safety standards.
Reduce the risk of food-borne illness.
Raise consumer awareness of food safety.
Please note: until Safe Food Counts is implemented, the public can access the results of a food premises inspection by calling 519-258-2146 ext. 1450 or 1474.
Reference
Health Canada, 2006. Retrieved March 19, 2008 from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/ill-intox/index-eng.php
