PROTON - Food Handler Certification Program

PROTON – Food Handler Certification Program
"Taking positive action towards food safety"

What is PROTON?

Proton is a food handling training program designed for employees in the food industry serving the general public and individuals interested in learning about the basic concepts of food safety. Participants will learn how to reduce the risk of food-borne illness by understanding how to safely prepare, store and serve food. All participants will be certified upon successful completion of the exam.

This program is facilitated by certified Public Health Inspectors and is offered either through a one day workshop or a self-study method.

Topics include:

• inspection and legislation
• hazard analysis
• basic microbiology
• safe food sources and storage
• personal hygiene
• cross-contamination issues
• time/temperature abuse

Benefits of PROTON

Being trained and certified in food handling will provide you with the knowledge and skills to help prevent food-borne illnesses

According to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care – Food Safety Protocol 2008, it is highly recommended that a minimum of one owner/operator and one food handler be certified at a food premises, and that a certified food handler be present at all times during operation


One day workshop

Study manuals are available in English and Chinese. Workshops are held monthly at our office locations. For more details, please see our schedule of dates. Additional workshops can be scheduled at your premises for groups of ten or more.

*Cost: $45.00 One day workshop includes: manual, lecture, exam, certificate and probe thermometer
$36.50 One day workshop (no manual) includes: lecture, exam, certificate and probe thermometer


Self-study method

Study manuals are available in English and Chinese. Self-study exams are held monthly at our office locations. For more details, please see our schedule of dates.

*Cost: $20.50 Self-study includes: manual, exam and certificate
$12.00 Self-study (no manual) includes: exam and certificate

*Prices are subject to change without notice

Course manuals are available at the following York Region Community and Health Services offices, Monday-Friday (except holidays) between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Payment can be made by cash or cheque. Cheques are payable to The Regional Municipality of York.

It is highly recommended that you review the manual prior to the course in preparation for the exam. A passing mark of 70% on the exam is required for your certificate. Certificates are valid for five years and are recognized throughout Ontario.

Download a PDF of the English manual or the Chinese manual


Schedule of dates:
September - December 2009
January - April 2010
May - August 2010

Locations
Markham office Shoppes of Unionville Plaza Health Protection Division 4261 Highway #7 East Suites B6-9 Unionville , ON L3R 9W6 Tele: 905-940-1333 Fax: 905-940-9872	Newmarket office Tannery Mall Health Protection Division 465 Davis Drive The Tannery, Suite 240 Newmarket , ON L3Y 7T9 Tele: 905-895-4511 Fax: 905-895-3166	Newmarket Health Centre – workshop course only 194 Eagle Street East Newmarket , ON L3Y 1J6	Richmond Hill office South Service Centre Health Protection Division 50 High Tech Road 2nd Floor Richmond Hill , ON L4B 4N7 Tele: 905-762-2090 Fax: 905-762-2091

In 2008, 1489 food handlers successfully completed PROTON.

For more information or to speak to a Public Health Inspector, contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.