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Food Safety


Are lemon juice and vinegar good solutions to use to sanitize my counters and cutting boards?
These products are not sanitizers and will not kill bacteria. In order to effectively kill bacteria you must use 100 parts per million bleach solution, a 200 parts per million Quaternary Ammonia based solution or a 25 parts per million of an iodine based solution.


Can I safely use liquid hand sanitizer in place of soap and paper towels for handwashing at our function?
Hand sanitizers are never to be used to replace handwashing. Hand sanitizers are an additional safety measure that can be used after thoroughly washing your hands.


How can I thaw meats safely?
To thaw meats safely, thaw in refrigerator at 4 degrees Celsius and below, in an ice bath or under cold running water.


How long is safe to leave food out to cool before putting it away in the refrigerator
Hazardous foods (meats, dairy products, fish and eggs) are to be stored at 4 degrees Celsius/39 Farenheit. These products should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours, if so, they should be discarded.


I am opening up a new restaurant, what are the requirements?
Refer to question number one for the notification requirement. Anyone interested in opening a restaurant must comply with the Food Premise Regulation 562. To review this regulation and the Health Protection and Promotion Act in its entirety please visit www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/index.html


Is cooked rice safe to leave out on the counter?
No, cooked rice must be stored at 60 degrees Celsius/140 Fahrenheit or 4 degrees Celsius/39 Fahrenheit.


Is it really necessary to wash raw vegetables before eating them? Do bacteria actually live on them?
Yes it is important to wash fruits and vegetables before eating them as they may have trace amounts of pesticides and dirt on them. Bacteria have been found to live in the crevices and pores of the outside of vegetables and several food poisoning outbreaks have been linked recently to contaminated spinach, lettuce and tomatoes.


Is there a problem with eating food from dented cans?
Before buying a canned food at the grocery store, examine the outside of the can. Here are some warning signs: - severe dents - extensive rust or corrosion - bulging - leaking - stains. If a can shows any of these warning signs or is punctured or has a seam defect, do not open/consume the product as it may be contaminated and could cause illness. Return can and contents to the store manager.


My Church/organization is putting on a bake sale, do I have to notify Elgin St. Thomas Public Health and what are the requirements?
Under Section 16(2)of the Health Protection and Promotion Act every person who intends to operate a food premise shall give notice. A special event notification form must be filled out and submitted to Public Health at least one week prior to the event. All requirements are on the special event notification form which can be picked up at Elgin St. Thomas Public Health or found on www.elginhealth.on.ca under health information, food safety, special events information and forms, special event food vendor notification.