FOOD

Food Handlers Certificate: What It Is & Who Needs It?

Food safety is a critical matter for the people working in the hotel industry.

The reason here is that this is a specialized course that allows professionals in the hotel industry to ensure the safety of the patrons. Chefs, cooks, waiters, and bartenders interact with hundreds of ingredients each day. Even a single mistake like using unwashed oven or uncleansed meat item, can lead to foodborne illnesses.

When you own hotel business, you are responsible for the people’s safety. This can be done by ensuring that every employee working with food has the proper food handlers’ certificate. A food safety course ensures that the working professional in the hotel industry has completed basic food safety training and understands proper kitchen hygiene.

What is a food handlers license?

A food handlers card, also known as food handlers certificate, or food safety permit, certifies that you’ve completed a food safety course that is approved by the state or county. Every individual working in the hotel industry is required to pass a food handlers course and exam to get your food handlers card.

Through these food safety courses teach students or working professionals with important guidelines on food temperature, allergens, tool sanitation, to ensure the safety of the people. You may be also tested on various reasons of common foodborne illnesses and even symptoms that suggest that you shouldn’t go to work. Every hotel, in order to operate efficiently in the industry, is required to have a food handlers license, so let’s cover who’s required to have one.

Who needs a food handlers license?

Now that we have learned what is a food safety certificate, now comes who needs it. And the short answer to this question is that it is required for all the employees to have a food handler permit. And if you don’t want to pick up a health code violation just because you have employees who do not have undergone a food safety course, it is smart to have one for everyone.

In simple words, the hotel employees who directly handle food— such as making food, serving, or even carrying it—should be licensed. So, your bartenders, cooks, or waiters should have a food safety certificate to comply with the local laws about food safety. In the case of professionals working in a managerial role, there’s also a separate food protection manager certification.

And since the state and county laws vary, it is very important to stay aware about your local laws to know what kind of food safety certificate is required for the employees working at the different levels. The best way to ensure matching with the state food safety laws is that you get your whole team certified with a professional food handling course so that they all know how to ensure the safety of the patrons.

So, get your own food safety certificate to be compliant with the local food safety laws and avoid any kind of penalty.

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