Food safety training to be mandatory for all P.E.I. eating establishments

All food service establishments in P.E.I. will have to have someone on site who's taken food safety training starting April 1.

The training includes good food handling practices and hand hygiene.

The amended regulations were drawn up in November 2014.

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The majority of restaurants and cafeterias on the Island already have trained staff in place, said Department of Health and Wellness officials.

Making it mandatory will ensure all establishments are covered, said Ryan Neale, a senior environmental health officer.

"It's always been encouraged. It's something always we always talk to operators about having food safety training," said Neale.

"Every year we put on multiplefood-safety training courses and invite operators and staff to those courses, but it hasn't been a requirement up to this point."

Department officials are just starting to formally track how many food establishments are operating without the training, but theydon't think there are that many.