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Food handlers for upcoming festival events urged to get certified

-Vendors invited to take advantage of upcoming virtual food handlers training
Food handlers looking to participate in this year’s 2023 festival activities are being urged to get certified and take advantage of upcoming food handler sessions on certification. Photo: GIS
Ms. Alexander said the Environment Health Division has been offering continuous training over the years so that persons have multiple opportunities to be trained. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Ms. Alexander said the Environment Health Division has been offering continuous training over the years so that persons have multiple opportunities to be trained. Photo: GIS/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola VI – Food handlers looking to participate in this year’s 2023 festival activities are being urged to get certified and take advantage of upcoming food handler sessions on certification.

These calls were made by Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer, Ms. Henrietta Alexander, who added, “We have scheduled two food handlers sessions on the same day to give persons the final opportunity to have their food handlers certified before the festival begins,” the Deputy Chief said.

Ms. Alexander said the division has been offering continuous training over the years so that persons have multiple opportunities to be trained. 

“We are doubling up on July 18 as a last effort to ensure participants have access to the certification required for food-selling operations,” she said.

Renew certificates at-least a month in advance - Ms Alexander 

She said they also want to remind persons to renew their food handler’s card at least a month in advance of expiration, “Persons renewing their food handler’s certificates are required to present their expired certificates, work permit, and/or picture identification,” Ms Alexander added.

The food handlers’ sessions will take place virtually via the WebEx platform on Tuesday, July 18 at 9:00 a.m. and at 5:00 p.m.  

 Food handlers interested in attending the virtual training are asked to register individually utilizing their personal email before 12:00 noon on July 17 using the following links:

For the 9:00 a.m. session, persons can register using the link here and for the 5:00 p.m. session, registration can be done using the link here.

10 Responses to “Food handlers for upcoming festival events urged to get certified”

  • Flys (15/07/2023, 14:08) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    Too much regulations
    • Tidy Bowl Man (15/07/2023, 15:48) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      When you're spending the next day after sitting on the toilet you’ll be blogging “they ain’t enough regulations “ Go flush it!
    • Linda (15/07/2023, 17:54) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Flys, if there were not enough regulations, a lot of people would get food poisoning. Have you seen the fake fingernails with raised designs, rings, and bracelets these women are wearing while handling food? I literally saw a woman take food from under her fake nail with another fake nail and fling it in the garbage, I walked away disgusted. The makeup and loose hair is such a turnoff too. Are they serving food or are they in a fashion show endangering our health or picking up men? Wearing their hair pulled back is o.k., but hanging hair that could fall into food is downright nasty! I hope to see improvements this year at the festival.
    • @Flys (16/07/2023, 09:25) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      There could never be enough regulations when selling foods to the public. Foods should be prepared in a clean sanitary environment. How many of you have eaten roaches and who knows that found their way in foods that we eat? Do you think someone that is selling food to the public is going to get rid of food that a roach or something else fell in while being cooked?
  • ok (15/07/2023, 15:53) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    And then what,you going to arrest every one
    Nice festival
    • @ok (16/07/2023, 11:54) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      It is not about arresting everyone, where is your common sense or logic? It is simply a food safety issue. Okay, if you are selling food to the PUBLIC, then everything should be in order.
  • My Take (15/07/2023, 19:18) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I would never buy or eat food from anyone that has long nails, not wearing disposable gloves or a hair net. I learn my lesson when I bought some food from a food truck and there was a press on nail in the food when I took my second bite of the food.
    • @my take (16/07/2023, 09:01) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      I feel the same way, food handlers should not be selling food with those long nails on their fingers. I don’t eat outside foods because I don’t know how the food is prepared. Do you really think food handlers wash the meats with lemon, lime and vinegar? Do you think they throughly wash the rice before cooking? Why do you think most people that eat outside food ends up sick? The only food I eat is the food I prepare at home.
  • What they also do (16/07/2023, 09:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is the left over foods they didn’t sell is being heated up and resold. Anyone selling food to the public should be required to have a medical check up before they are issued a food handlers license. My son went into the Chinese take out to order some food, the boy called me and said the cook was picking at his nose, I TOLD MY SON TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE. If he want fried chicken and fried rice I will buy the ingredients and cook it at home.
  • My message (16/07/2023, 09:32) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    To all booth workers to PLEASEEEEE WEAR A HAIR NET, TAKE THOSE CLAWS OFF THEIR FINGERS, WEAR DISPOSABLE GLOVES AND PLEASE DON’T HANDLE FOOD AND MONEY IN HANDS AT THE SAME TIME.


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