Manitoba Food Safety Regulations

Food businesses in Manitoba must follow provincial food safety requirements designed to protect the public from foodborne illness, contamination, and unsafe food handling practices. Restaurants, cafeterias, grocery food departments, caterers, food trucks, temporary food vendors, and other food handling establishments are regulated under Manitoba’s Public Health Act and the Food and Food Handling Establishments Regulation.

In Manitoba, food handling establishments are inspected for compliance with requirements related to food handling, storage temperatures, sanitation, employee hygiene, equipment, food contact surfaces, and protection from contamination. Food businesses must also register and obtain the required health permit before preparing, selling, or distributing food to the public.

Manitoba Health offers a Certified Food Handler Training Program and directs learners to approved private contractors for food handler courses. The program is intended for owners, managers, supervisors, and food service personnel who receive, prepare, or serve food.

Food Safety Market, operated by Freeborn & Associates Inc., is listed by Manitoba Health as a contractor associated with the Manitoba Health Certified Food Handler Training Program.

Important note for Winnipeg food businesses: The City of Winnipeg has specific certified food handler requirements. Manitoba Health states that Winnipeg food service establishments must meet requirements based on the number of food handlers working in the establishment, including having a certified person on staff or on duty depending on staffing levels.

Food safety training helps food handlers understand how to prevent contamination, control time and temperature, practise proper hand hygiene, clean and sanitize correctly, and protect customers from foodborne illness.

The Managing Food Safety course from Food Safety Market is designed for food handlers, supervisors, managers, and foodservice operators who need practical, reliable food safety training. It supports Manitoba food businesses by helping staff understand the safe food handling practices expected during daily operations and health inspections.

Managing Food Safety is an engaging online food handler certification course designed to help learners understand and apply safe food handling practices in real foodservice settings.

With Managing Food Safety, learners can:

Complete training online
Learn practical food safety principles
Prepare for safe food handling responsibilities
Support compliance with Manitoba and Winnipeg food safety expectations
Build confidence in hygiene, temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, cleaning, and sanitizing

Manitoba food safety inspections and permits

Public health inspectors inspect food handling establishments to confirm that minimum food safety standards are being followed. Inspections may review general food handling, storage temperatures, sanitation, employee hygiene, equipment, food contact surfaces, and disinfection procedures. Inspectors also assess whether food is protected from contamination and whether adequate temperature controls are in place for heating, cooling, and storing potentially hazardous foods.

Register and obtain a health permit before operating

Food handling establishments in Manitoba must be registered before they are constructed, extensively remodelled, or operated. Most food handling establishments must also hold a valid permit issued by the director or a public health inspector before operating.

For new establishments or ownership changes, Manitoba Health advises operators to submit a food handling permit registration form, menu, and detailed floor plan to their area public health inspector.

Follow Manitoba food safety regulations

Manitoba’s Food and Food Handling Establishments Regulation sets out requirements for food sanitation, approved food sources, food storage, temperature control, cleaning, sanitizing, employee hygiene, equipment, premises maintenance, and pest prevention.

Public health inspectors may withhold or suspend a permit if an establishment is not complying with the regulation.

Control time and temperature

Potentially hazardous foods must be kept at safe internal temperatures, unless they are in a necessary period of preparation. The regulation requires potentially hazardous foods to be maintained at 5°C or colder or 60°C or hotter. Refrigerated areas, hot and cold storage facilities, and food temperature measurement must be supported by accurate thermometers.

Maintain hygiene, cleaning, and sanitation standards

Food handlers must maintain personal cleanliness, follow good hygienic practices, wash their hands as often as necessary, wear clean outer garments, and avoid working where there is a risk of contaminating food or food contact surfaces when infected with a communicable disease. Operators must also keep the establishment clean and in good repair, provide accessible handwashing and toilet facilities, and ensure proper cleaning and sanitizing of utensils and food contact surfaces.

Protect food from contamination

Food must be protected from contamination during storage, preparation, display, service, and transportation. Potentially hazardous foods must come from a government-inspected food processing plant or another approved source. Food on display must be protected by packaging, display cases, closed containers, food shields, or other effective means.

Is food handler certification required in Manitoba?

Manitoba Health offers the Certified Food Handler Training Program and identifies owners, managers, supervisors, and food service personnel who receive, prepare, or serve food as the intended audience.

Winnipeg has specific certified food handler requirements for food service establishments. Outside Winnipeg, food businesses should confirm local expectations with their area public health inspector.

Do Manitoba restaurants need a health permit?

Yes. Manitoba Health states that businesses preparing, selling, or distributing food to the public must register their food handling establishment and obtain a permit from a public health inspector before operating.

What regulation applies to Manitoba food handling establishments?

The main regulation for restaurants and food handling establishments is the Food and Food Handling Establishments Regulation under Manitoba’s Public Health Act. It covers food sanitation, food sources, storage, temperature control, hygiene, sanitation, equipment, and premises requirements.

What temperatures are required for potentially hazardous foods in Manitoba?

Manitoba’s regulation requires potentially hazardous foods to be kept at an internal temperature of 5°C or colder or 60°C or hotter, except during necessary periods of preparation.

Are food trucks regulated in Manitoba?

Yes. Manitoba Health states that mobile food trucks require a health permit and must comply with provincial food requirements.

Do temporary food vendors need to register in Manitoba?

Yes. Special events where food is prepared or served must be registered at least 14 days before the event, and a health permit may be required.

Manitoba Food Safety Regulations

Food handler certification in Manitoba

Manitoba food safety training

Who should take food handler training in Manitoba?

Restaurant owners, operators, managers, and supervisors

Food handlers who receive, prepare, cook, hold, serve, package, or store food

Staff working in restaurants, cafeterias, bakeries, grocery food departments, institutions, catering operations, mobile food units, and temporary food service operations

Winnipeg food service establishments that must meet the City of Winnipeg’s certified food handler requirements

Get your Manitoba food handler certificate online

Manitoba food safety inspections and permits

Manitoba food businesses should be prepared to demonstrate that they have:

Mobile food units and temporary food events

Key requirements for Manitoba food businesses

Register and obtain a health permit before operating

Follow Manitoba food safety regulations

Control time and temperature

Maintain hygiene, cleaning, and sanitation standards

Protect food from contamination

Frequently asked questions

Manitoba food safety resources:

Manitoba Food and Food Handling Establishments Regulation

Manitoba Health: Food Handling Establishment Inspections & Health Permits

Manitoba Health: Certified Food Handler Training Program

Manitoba Health: Contractors Associated with Manitoba Health

City of Winnipeg: Food Handling Establishment Licence / requirements

City of Winnipeg: Food Service Establishment By-law