P.E.I. non-profit groups require food handling safety course

Mandatory food hygiene training will be required for those preparing food forgroups including non-profit organizations holding fundraising suppers and breakfasts.

The new training rules will come into effect on April 1 and will apply to everyone who is involved in food service,P.E.I. Environmental Health manager Joe Bradley said.

"It is for people to understand their role in preparing food for large groups of people as to prevent food borne illness."

At least one person in the group holding the fundraising event in which food is servedwill be required to have the training and will have to be on site, he said.

"Certainly for community groups, church groups that haven't had the opportunity to access training yet, we would certainly look at a grace period for them to access that training."

The required mandatory training takes about one day to complete. The free food safety courses are being offered this month in Charlottetown and Summerside.

A shorter course of just a couple of hours for non-profit groups, churches and community service organizations is being planned, Bradley said.