Proposed Modernizing of Food Safety Legislation
Big Changes Are Likely Coming to Alberta’s Food Safety Rules — Here Is What You Need to Know
After last summer’s E. coli outbreak linked to several Calgary daycares, Alberta Public Health is rethinking how food safety is handled across the province, and if you hold a food handling permit, these changes could affect you.
The final report is out, and several recommendations could modernize Alberta’s food safety legislation, including how the gig chef economy fits into the picture.
Here are three key takeaways for food service operators, caterers, daycares, and anyone working in commercial kitchens:
1. Food Safety Certification Could Be Required Every 3 Years (Page 33–35)
Much like ProServe for alcohol, there’s a push for mandatory recertification every three years for anyone preparing food under a food handling permit — including licensed childcare facilities.
2. Stronger Compliance Standards for High-Risk Foods (Pages 41–44)
Expect a tighter focus on high-risk areas, with potential updates to the Food Retail and Foodservices Code.
Operators may soon be required (not just encouraged) to track things like:
Sanitizer concentrations
Cooking end-point temperatures
Fridge and freezer storage temps
3. Faster Enforcement for Unsafe Operators (Pages 44–49)
The province is considering the creation of Public Health Investigators to respond more quickly to serious or repeat food safety violations. AHS would also have better tools to track non-compliant operators and prioritize follow-up actions.
These recommendations aren’t law yet — but they signal a shift toward more accountability and oversight in Alberta’s food industry.
Want to dive deeper? Read the full report here (insert link).
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