Module 4

Food Safety & Shared

Responsibility
 Food Safety & Shared Responsibility

Table of Contents

4A The Government's Responsibility ......................................................................4

Let's look at responsibility in the food industry. ................................................4

Who is responsible for Food Safety? ...............................................................4

The Government's Responsibility .....................................................................4

Defining 'Canadian Law' .....................................................................................5

Free from Harm ....................................................................................................5

Levels of Government .........................................................................................5

Reliable Sources ....................................................................................................6

Responsibility of Provincial & Territorial Governments ..............................7

Responsibility of the Federal Government.....................................................7

4B Government Departments & Agencies ............................................................8

Let's learn more about departments and agencies. ...........................................8

Protecting Canada's Food Supply .....................................................................8

Responding to Food Recalls & Food Safety Emergencies ....................... 10

Collaborative Work ........................................................................................... 11

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The Main Role of Food Businesses ............................................................... 11

Food Safety Management ............................................................................... 11

What can we do as consumers to ensure food safety? ............................ 12

4C Food & Beverage Processor's Responsibilities ............................................ 13

Let's explore the role of the business operator in food safety. ................... 13

Food Business Operators ................................................................................ 13

For More Information ....................................................................................... 15

When An Outbreak Occurs ............................................................................ 15

Leadership Reflection Questions ................................................................... 15

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Module 4 | Food Safety & Shared responsibility

4A The Government's Responsibility

Let's look at responsibility in the food industry.

Who is responsible for Food Safety?

The short answer is that we are ALL responsible for producing

safe food and protecting consumers. We all have a vital role
to play when it comes to food safety.
That means everyone from the front-line production worker,
the owner, the food and beverage processing industry, various
government departments and associations, as well as teachers
and professors who provide education relating to our industry
– all play a role in keeping our food safe.

The Government's Responsibility

Regardless of your business size, the Canadian government

and the food industry collaborate to safeguard our food
supply, emphasizing Canada's shared responsibility for food
safety.
For example, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency,
commonly called CFIA, is critical in ensuring food safety in
Canada. We became very familiar with our CFIA inspectors;
they provided withered guidance and excellent advice.

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Defining 'Canadian Law'

To better comprehend the government’s guidelines and

regulations, let's examine the definitions of Canada’s different
types of laws.

• Legislation refers to written laws that Parliament enacts,

often acts or statutes.
• Regulations are a form of law that defines the
application and enforcement of legislation, and
• Guidelines are government documents that are used to
interpret legislation and regulations.

Free from Harm

It is crucial to ensure that the food we consume is free from

harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, toxins, and chemicals, as
emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Canadian Government estimates that around 30 bacteria,

parasites, and viruses are responsible for causing food-borne
illnesses.

Levels of Government

Protecting public health is a shared responsibility in Canada

involving many levels of government. Each level of
government has different responsibilities.

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Federal, Provincial, Territorial, and Municipal governments all

have a vital role in protecting Canada’s food supply. They do
this by assessing risk, creating or amending legislation to
improve food safety systems, and enforcing regulations.
Canadian food safety rules and regulations are also based on
international standards, scientific evidence, and risk analysis.

Canada has three levels of government, each with distinct

responsibilities.
1. Federal
2. Provincial or Territorial
3. Municipal

Reliable Sources

The government relies on current and reliable information to

make informed decisions on legislative changes. Data from
trustworthy sources are thoroughly analyzed before any
action is taken.
When we refer to "reliable sources,” we are talking about
scientists and experts tasked with investigating a particular
scenario and presenting their findings to the government.

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To understand how this works, think about your favourite

restaurant:
• Do you know who sets the sanitation and food handling
rules there?
• Do you know who inspects the restaurant to ensure the
rules are followed?

Responsibility of Provincial & Territorial Governments

The safety of food served at a restaurant can affect public

health. Provincial and territorial governments are responsible
for public health in their jurisdiction, which means they can
enact and enforce laws to protect consumers. It also means
that food safety laws across the country vary, from the Public
Health Act in British Columbia to the Food Premises Act in
Newfoundland and Labrador.

Provincial and territorial governments have the lead role in

public health and food safety regarding foods produced,
prepared, and distributed within their borders.

Responsibility of the Federal Government

The federal department’s responsibility varies across the

country. It could be the Department of Health, Agriculture or
Food or another department that looks after food safety. It
may also be shared among different departments.

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4B Government Departments & Agencies

Let's learn more about departments and agencies.

Protecting Canada's Food Supply

Several departments and agencies protect Canada’s food

supply within the Federal Government of Canada.

• Health Canada (HC)

Link
Health Canada helps Canadians maintain and improve
their health. Because this can only be done with access to
a safe food supply, Health Canada is responsible for
setting science-based policies and standards for the safety
and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada.

• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

Link
The Public Health Agency of Canada conducts research,
outbreak surveillance, and investigations and provides
advice to protect consumer health. They take the lead role
in investigating and reporting on national foodborne
illness outbreaks. They also cooperate closely with Health
Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to
protect the public from these outbreaks.

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• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Link
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada provide national
support in areas that affect food safety and the health of
farm animals and plants. Protecting Canada's agricultural
resources is critical to maintaining national and
international confidence in Canadian agriculture products.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada also research food

safety, quality, and nutrition, or, as they say, “from farm to
fork.”

• Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Link
The Canada Border Services Agency, also known as the
CBSA, ensures the security and prosperity of Canada by
managing the access of people and goods to and from
Canada.

The CBSA is responsible for stopping illegal goods

entering or leaving Canada, protecting food safety, plant
and animal health, and Canada's resource base.
They use legislation that governs the admissibility of
people, goods, plants, and animals into and out of
Canada’s borders.

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Based on emerging threats, the import requirements for

food and other high–risk items are subject to change daily:
this keeps Canadians safe from potential diseases brought
into our country by food and plant products.

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Link
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, or CFIA, is more
than just food inspection. The CFIA enforces the Canadian
government's science-based food protection regulations,
specifically, the food-related Food and Drugs Act, the
current Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations,
and the proposed Safe Food for Canadians Act and
Regulations. They also oversee all food imported,
exported, or shipped between provinces.

Responding to Food Recalls & Food Safety Emergencies

Another role of the CFIA is to manage food recalls and

respond to food safety emergencies. It’s probably a good idea
to have a contact number for the CFIA in a handy location in
case you ever have a food safety issue.

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Collaborative Work

In collaboration, CFIA works directly with the food industry,

governments, and consumer groups to create policies and
guidance documents to support the new Safe Food for
Canadians Regulations. Your CFIA inspector is an excellent
resource regarding how these new regulations affect your
business.

The Main Role of Food Businesses

Food businesses have a significant role in keeping our food

supply safe. Business owners must know all aspects of food
safety legislation, guidelines, and expectations. With this
knowledge, they are responsible for the proper training of
their team, and they must ensure they are given all the
training and tools necessary to keep all their products safe.

Food Safety Management

Having Food Safety Management Systems in place for your

operations is critical to producing safe food. Knowing what
protocol to follow regarding food recalls, food spoilage, or
food contamination, to name a few, will go a long way toward
your company’s sustainability.

If you are passionate and serious about food safety, then your
goal, like mine, is to be in the food business for a very long time.

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What can we do as consumers to ensure food safety?

• Be Vigilant
o Several things can go wrong before the food
arrives at your table.
o When you are shopping, make sure to keep your
eyes open for signs of food safety issues.
o Don’t choose opened or damaged packages,
dented cans, or bruised produce; check the
expiration and sell-by dates.
• Be a Savvy Food Shopper
o When you enter the grocery store, shop for non-
perishable items, like canned goods.
o Pick up your refrigerated, frozen, and hot deli
items just before checking out.
o If you have other errands to run that day, do your
food shopping last.
o If that’s not possible, pack a cooler in your car
with ice packs so the food can remain at a safe
temperature until you get home
• Keep It Clean
o A recent germ study by NSF International
revealed that kitchens are the germiest places in
our homes, so it’s essential to regularly clean and
sanitize your kitchen counters and sink.

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o When cooking, avoid cross-contamination by

using separate cutting boards and utensils for raw
meats and vegetables.
o Always wash the exterior surface of all produce
before slicing or peeling to help remove soil and
surface bacteria.
o Remember to clean your hands before cooking or
eating correctly, especially after handling raw
meats.
o It may sound simple but use the same standard of
care you would expect from a restaurant when
you’re in your own home to do your part to
ensure food safety.

4C Food & Beverage Processor's Responsibilities

Let's explore the role of the business operator in food safety.

Food Business Operators

Is our role as Food Business Operators of utmost importance?

Canadians rely on us to safeguard them from hazardous food
and beverage items and expect us to remain vigilant against
potential risks. In case of any illness caused by contaminated
food, we are responsible for taking ownership of the
situation.

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We are responsible for numerous daily procedures: and here

are just a few examples:

• We are responsible for the safety of the food that we

produce, transport, store or sell.
• We are responsible for keeping unsafe food Off the
shelves in markets.
• We must be able to rapidly identify any supplier or
consignee in the case of a recall.
• We need to immediately inform authorities if we have
reason to believe our food products are unsafe.

Here are a few more roles and responsibilities of food

businesses, we are responsible for:

1. Identifying and regularly reviewing the critical points in

our food safety management processes to ensure that
controls are appropriately applied at these points, and
2. Co-operating with the proper authorities in taking
action to reduce risks.
3. Keeping on top of these responsibilities to ensure our
products are safe and enjoyable for our customers.
4. Following strict food safety procedures to avoid
negative situations, such as recalls.

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For More Information

Government of Canada
3 Key Principles for Exporters Check it out!

When An Outbreak Occurs

In the event of an outbreak or other potential situation, a

Food Business Operator needs to be aware of the necessary
steps to take, whom to report to, how to handle the situation
professionally, and what to expect from the issue.

Leadership Reflection Questions

• Think about your own knowledge. Do you know who is

responsible if or when things go wrong? Do you know
who is responsible for managing your food safety
system?
• Think about senior management in your operation. Who is
the person who will take overall accountability for food
safety and will ensure your products meet all regulatory
requirements?
• Think about your faculty's preventive control plan. Who
will be responsible for its ongoing implementation and
updates? Do you know who these people are?

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If you are struggling to answer any of these questions, consider

some alterations you might need to implement in your business
that would be worth considering.
Training senior personnel, recruiting new skilled employees, or
engaging a part-time consultant could be viable options. There's
always a way to find a solution!

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