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The TBDHU is following a revised province-wide risk assessment for food premises called the Operational Approaches for Food Safety Guideline, 2019. 

This guideline is expected to make better use of the time spent inspecting food premises.   

Food premises include places…

Robyn Land & Melissa Syrja, Public Health Inspectors


A streamlined Outbreak Response Protocol has improved the efficiency of public health’s response to confirmed or suspected food and waterborne illness outbreaks.  

Micro-organisms such as Norovirus or E. coli bacteria can get into…

Opioids
Opioids are drugs that are used primarily to treat pain, Opioids can also induce euphoria (feeling high) and are sometimes used for this purpose. Opioids can be prescribed medications dispensed from a pharmacy or obtained through the illicit market. Some commonly used opioids include:…

Emergency Preparedness

expand_moreMake A Plan



Take time to consider what you will do if you or a family/household member becomes sick and needs care.
If you are responsible for dependents, including young children or elderly relatives, consider putting in place alternative care plans should you…

Regular testing of your private well is important to make sure your water is safe for you and your family to drink. Bacteria such as E. coli can contaminate your well making it unsafe to drink. The risk is higher if you have animals in the area – especially on farms with livestock and other animals…

Like public beaches, pools and other artificial recreational waters are great places to have fun and cool off in the summer. However, they can also be a breeding ground for recreational waterborne illnesses (RWIs), including a wide variety of infections such as gastrointestinal, skin, ear,…

Is Your Organization Interested in Serving Wild Game to the Public?

TBDHU has recently revamped its process for approving applications to serve wild game to the public.

You can apply to serve wild game on a one-time basis such as a fundraising event, or if you are a non-profit, you can apply to…

Section 32 of Ontario Regulation 493 requires that every food premises operator must ensure that at all times during operation there is at least one food handler or supervisor on the premises who has completed provincially-approved food handler training. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU…

What is Food Poisoning?

Foodborne illness, commonly known as food poisoning, happens when people eat food containing harmful germs or organisms including bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi. Many foods naturally contain small amounts of these germs, but our bodies can usually handle them without…

If you are planning to sell or give away food to the public, learn how to put food safety first! Download a copy of TBDHU’s Special Event Guidelines – Operating Guidelines for Event Organizers and Food Vendors (PDF)


All persons and/or organizations planning to hold an event where food will be…

Providing food to the public carries an immense responsibility. Proper food handling steps must be followed to reduce the risk of foodborne illness (food poisoning) whether you are a national food producer/manufacturer, a restaurant owner, or operating a home-based business. The role of the Thunder…

We all deserve safe drinking water. One of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to prevent and reduce water-borne illness related to drinking water. The TBDHU does this in a number of ways, including:


Surveillance and inspection of drinking water systems;
Timely response to drinking…

Introduction

After a flood, it’s important to restore your home to good order as soon as possible to protect your health and prevent further damage to your house and belongings. Whether you do the work yourself or hire a contractor, this handy checklist will help you organize the clean up.…

Home. It’s where we should feel most safe – and part of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to help you keep it that way. Possible health hazards in your home such as those listed below are either preventable or can be planned for. Whether you are a homeowner or a tenant, all it takes is…

Find resources and information for professionals working in Emergency Services.

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