Handling food safely is important to prevent food-borne illness (food poisoning). These resources provide information on general food safety at home and the grocery store. They also provide information on food safety issues such as mercury in fish and how to prepare food to keep you safe in an emergency.
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Emergency Preparation
It is important to make a plan in case of a disaster such as an earthquake or flood. It may be some time before you can access safe food and water from outside your home. Learn how you can prepare enough food and water supplies for up to 3 days in case of an emergency.
Food Safety and the Environment
The food we eat can come into contact with different elements that are found in the environment. One of the most common elements that can affect the food we eat is mercury. Fish absorb mercury, which you then absorb when you eat fish. Mercury in small amounts is not harmful, however too much mercury can be bad for your health. To learn more about choosing fish that are low in mercury, click on the link below.
Preventing Food-borne Illness
Humans can become sick by eating contaminated food and water. Risk of food-borne illness can be lowered by eating properly cooked poultry and meat, drinking pasteurized milk and juice and by following general food safety precautions. For more information, click on the links below:
- Campylobacter Infection (HealthLinkBC File #58)
- E. coli Infection (HealthLinkBC File #02)
- Food Safety for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (HealthLinkBC File #59b)
- Food Safety: Instructions on Food Labels (HealthLinkBC File #59c)
- Food Safety: Easy Ways to Make Food Safer (HealthLinkBC File #59a)
- Foods to Avoid for People at Higher Risk of Food-borne Illness (HealthLinkBC File #76)
- Home Canning - How to Avoid Botulism (HealthLinkBC File #22)
- Listeriosis (HealthLinkBC File #75)
- Pasteurized and Raw Milk (HealthLinkBC File #03)
- Salmonellosis (HealthLinkBC File #17)
- Toxoplasmosis (HealthLinkBC File #43)
- Unpasteurized Fruit Juices and Ciders: A Potential Health Risk (HealthLinkBC File #72)
Useful Websites
BC Centre for Disease Control – Pregnancy and Food Safety
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority. They provide provincial and national leadership in public health through surveillance, detection, prevention and consultation. They also provide direct diagnostic and treatment services to people with diseases that may affect the health of the public. This resource provides information on pregnancy and food safety, with tips on how you can make the safest choices for you and your baby.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is a federal agency that works in collaboration and partnership with industry, consumers, federal, provincial and municipal organizations to protect Canadians from food and animal related diseases. To learn more about government regulations for food production, preservation and storage, food safety in an emergency, and food recalls, click on the links below:
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Food Safety in an Emergency
- Food Recalls and Allergy Alerts – High Risk
Healthy Canadians
This website is produced by the Government of Canada to improve the health of all Canadians. The food safety section of this website provides information on ways to improve food safety in your kitchen and reduce the risk of food-borne illness. There are also tips for high risk groups such as seniors, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. The food poisoning section of this website provides information about the different types of food-borne illness (food poisoning), their symptoms and treatment for how to prevent them.
