Food Handlers & Food Safety

Food Handlers & Food Safety

Source: California Restaurant Association

The California Food Handler Card law is designed to ensure that restaurant employees receive a reasonable level of training in food safety practices to reduce the potential for foodborne illness. Food handlers must have a California Food Handler Card 30 days from the date of hire. The cards are valid throughout most of the state and are valid for three years.

Each food facility must maintain records documenting that each employee possesses a valid California Food Handler Card that can be provided to local enforcement officials upon request. Food handlers must maintain a valid food handler card for the duration of their employment. Some foodservice employees are exempt from the California Food Handler Card law requirement, including individuals holding a valid manager’s food safety certification such as ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification<https://www.calrest.org/post/servsafer-food-protection-manager-certification> required by current law.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law a bill that adds a new requirement to the SB 602 training that California food handlers receive. They’ll soon be required to know safe handling practices for foods that are considered allergens, along with symptoms that a major allergen could cause.

For further information regarding this subject, feel free to contact Flores Financial Services’ Human Resources Department at 619-588-2411.