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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…

Smoking + Radon = Dangerous combination

Statistically, 1 in 20 people who have a high concentration of radon gas in their homes will develop lung cancer. However, if you smoke on top of this, your chances of developing lung cancer are 1 in 3. Don’t let the two leading causes of lung cancer stand…

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit provides information on a large number of infectious diseases. Diseases are listed from A-Z  below for your convenience.

Under the Child Care and Early Years Act, all children attending a licensed child care centre (daycare) must be immunized as required by the local Medical Officer of Health (MOH). The operator of the licensed facility has a legal obligation to make sure that all the children in their care are…

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…

Mould in the corner of a room.


Mould is a health hazard. It is a type of fungus – or more accurately, a group of different kinds of fungi – that can grow in damp areas in public places and in your home. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to:


Inspect public areas as necessary and…

Adverse Events Following Immunization

An adverse event following immunization (AEFI) is an unwanted or unexpected health outcome that happens after someone receives a vaccine, which may or may not be caused by the vaccine. Although rare, AEFI’s can occur. Potential AEFI side effects and management…

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit provides a variety of resources and services for health-care workers, educators and employers. In this section, you can access useful information about common public health topics such as communicable disease reporting, immunization, general health…

The environment affects our children more than it does adults for various reasons (read on below). The Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s role is to inform the public about these risks and provide information on how to reduce them. We want to help you ensure your children – and all children living…

Ammonia is a colourless gas with a very distinct odour. People may readily recognize this smell because it is used in many household cleaners and window cleaning products. High levels of airborne ammonia gas can dissolve in water to cause corrosive ammonium hydroxide. Most people smell ammonia…

Radon is an invisible, odourless radioactive gas that can be found in homes across Canada. It is produced naturally in the ground as uranium breaks down. The resulting gas can seep through cracks in the foundation, pipe openings, sump pits, and other openings into your home. Although it is present…