Food Safety
New Food Safety Regulations went into effect in Nunavut on May 1st, 2024
Factsheets:
Food Safety During Power Outages Factsheet
Preparing Homemade Food for Sale Factsheet Country Food and Food Safety Regulations Factsheet Mercury and Country Food FactsheetForms:
Application Form, Permit to Operate a Food Premise
How is food regulated in Nunavut?
The Department of Health regulates food premises in Nunavut to ensure they meet the requirements of the Food Safety Regulations made under the Public Health Act. The regulations include the Nunavut Food Retail and Food Services Code (Code) which has important information related to keeping food safe for the public.
What is the Nunavut Food Retail and Food Services Code (Code)?
The Nunavut Food Retail and Food Services Code (Code) was adapted from a Code initially developed by food safety experts on the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Food Safety Committee.
It includes details on the design and construction of food premises along with maintenance and sanitation and the control of food hazards. The Food Safety Regulations include a schedule containing the Code which must be followed in Nunavut.
What types of food premises must follow the Food Safety Regulations?
In general, the Food Safety Regulations apply to a food premise that is distributing, serving, or selling food to the public or in an institution or camp. There are some exceptions. Regional Environmental Health Officers are available to clarify the requirements. Below are some examples of food premises that must follow the Food Safety Regulations whether they operate on a temporary (less than 14 days) or permanent basis:
- restaurants including those offering delivery or take-out service only
- institutions and camps
- soup kitchens
- caterers, including the vehicles used to transport food
- retail grocery and food outlets
- fish and meat processing facilities, including their front shops
- mobile food trucks
- most tourist accommodations as defined in the Tourism Act
- any other place where high-risk food or medium-risk food is handled
Are there some places where food is handled but the Food Safety Regulations don’t apply?
Here are examples of places or situations that are exempt from the Food Safety Regulations:
- a home which only handles low risk foods for distribution, service or sale to the public or institutions or camps
- a place where only low risk foods are handled such as fresh fruits and vegetables
- a place where only prepackaged food in its original packaging is handled so long as the food is stored in a safe and sanitary manner including with appropriate refrigeration or freezing as required.
- a place selling liquor under the authority of the Liquor Act unless food is also sold there
- a cannabis outlet under the authority of the Cannabis Act unless cannabis is included in high-risk food or medium risk food
- a food bank
- a premises that is regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- a place operated under a licence issued under the Fisheries Act (Canada)
- a fish processing facility that operates under applicable territorial or federal food safety legislation
- a food vending machine that dispenses only bottled beverages, candies, nuts, or similar low-risk foods
- camps designed to house fewer than 50 occupants (other regulations apply for camps with 10 to under 50 occupants)
What does handling food mean?
Handling is a broad term meant to include a range of activities related to food that is intended to be distributed served or sold to the public or in an institution or camp. These activities include the manufacture, importation, processing, preparation, packaging, storage, display, movement, transport, distribution or sale of any food.
Are there rules around food prepared in a home for public distribution?
The regulations don’t apply to a home (dwelling) that prepares only low risk food. Medium-risk or high-risk food is not allowed to be prepared in a home for distribution, service, or sale to the public or in an institution or camp. The only exception is if a person publicly donates medium-risk or high-risk food produced in a home, then they must conspicuously indicate, in writing or as part of the broadcast of the offer that the food has been produced in a home without a permit under the Food Safety Regulations.
Are home stays, bed and breakfast and family home day cares regulated under the Food Safety Regulations?
There is specific reference in the Food Safety Regulations to other situations regarding food premises in a home such as home stays and bed and breakfasts as defined in the Tourist Accommodation Regulations and the Tourism Act and to family home day cares as defined in the Child Day Care Standards Regulations made under the Child Day Care Act. The operator of a home stay, bed and breakfast or family home day care must follow some basic rules outlined in the regulations.
- All food preparation and storage areas, equipment and utensils must be operated and maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
- The person handling the food must be clean and sanitary, wash their hands often and do nothing to contaminate the food.
- All food served or to be served to clients is handled in a sanitary manner.
- All perishable food must be stored at appropriate temperatures.
- Only serve potable water or water that follows any drinking water advisory in place.
Do the regulations apply to country food?
Country food is generally exempt from the Food Safety Regulations except for the following situations:
- Country food that is mixed with any other food that is not country food is no longer considered country food and the regulations apply. Note that ingredients needed to brine or pickle country food for the purpose of preserving it is not considered adding other food.
- Places used for the commercial processing of country food.
- Places where a licence is required under section 108 of the Wildlife Act.
A food premise such as a restaurant can serve country food if certain precautions are followed and it is made clear to customers that the country food is not inspected.
Country food may also be sold outside of a food premise. However, a person who sells uninspected country food must conspicuously indicate in any written, published or broadcast advertisement or offer for sale:
- that the country food has not been inspected;
- and in the case of walrus or bear, whether it has been tested for trichinella and, if so, whether it tested negative or positive.
Does food include drinks like water?
The term food in the Food Safety Regulations includes drinks like water and other beverages. The regulations apply to places where liquor is manufactured commercially. However, a place that only sells liquor under the Liquor Act is exempt from the regulations unless other food is also handled there.
What are high-risk foods?
High-risk foods are non-acidic or slightly acidic, moist, and protein foods. These food products require a number of complex control steps to ensure product safety (i.e., proper temperature requirements at various stages of preparation). These foods include meat and meat products, milk and milk products, eggs, poultry, fish and shellfish, tofu products, and sprouts, as well as gravies, puddings, custards, cream-filled baked goods, potato and other mayonnaise-based salads, cream-based soups and sauces, and unpasteurized products, such as juice, cider and cheeses.
What are medium-risk foods?
Medium-risk foods are food products that require a certain step to minimize potential health risk (i.e., proper cold holding techniques). These foods include packaged vegetables, cooked cereals, soft cheeses, fresh, uncooked meat and meat sandwich spreads.
What are low-risk foods?
Low-risk foods are food products which do not pose significant health hazards by themselves. These products include ready to eat foods, peanut butter, bread, crackers, butter, dry cereals, and all foods in cans and flexible pouches until the cans or pouches are opened.