The importance of food safety cannot be overstated. According to the World Health Organization, more than 200 different diseases are spread through food. But unless you studied culinary arts, food safety is not covered in the public-school curriculum. Fortunately, the ServSafe certification exists to spread knowledge and offer protection.
What is the ServSafe certification?
ServSafe is an educational program from the National Restaurant Association (NRA). It was designed to teach food handlers the best practices regarding food safety. If someone passes the course and exam, they receive a safe serve certification.
Safe serve certification isn’t required for all food service workers. Whether formal food safety education is required varies state-to-state. That said, individual employers can require this type of training to add an extra layer of protection for their businesses, even if their state doesn’t mandate completion of this type of training.
What is Covered in Safe Serve Certification Courses?
ServSafe has two certificates: one for food handlers and one for managers.
The ServSafe Food Handler certification is for employee-level positions. It covers:
§ Time and temperature
§ Cleaning and sanitation
§ Avoiding cross-contamination
§ Personal hygiene
§ Basic food safety
This course can be taken online. To obtain safe serve certification, you must pass a 40-question test with 75% correct answers.
Above the food handler is the food manager certification. As its title describes, it’s designed for managers of businesses in the food industry. Covered topics include:
§ Preparing, cooking, and serving food
§ Facilities, cleaning/sanitizing, and pest management
§ Foodborne microorganisms and allergens
§ Purchasing, receiving and storing food
§ Personal hygiene
After the online course, there is a 90-question test. To obtain certification, you must pass with 75% correct answers.
Why is Safe Serve Certification a Good Idea?
>Food safety is a real issue. Unsafe food handling can lead to sickness and even death. Adapting best practices helps prevent needless health risks. It can also ensure compliance, which is necessary for businesses that want to protect themselves against potential legal action.
Who Needs ServSafe Certification?
>Requirements vary by state for the safe serve certification. Typically, not all food handlers need a handler certificate. Some states require that at least one person on staff has the ServSafe Food Manager certification. Check with your local health department to find out the regulations in your area.
How Can Certification Prevent Issues?
Quite often, unsafe food handling is due to a lack of knowledge. A cook might not know the temperature at which a chicken is fully cooked, or they might not know to change their gloves when handling peanut butter because it’s a common allergy.
Ideally, when a food service worker is trained these important issues would be covered. But this is often not the case. Having a formal course and exam afterward helps ensure that this knowledge is learned and digested.Food safety is tremendously important. The ServSafe course and exam promote knowledge of the best food safety practices. To learn more, please contact us today.
