Charleston food workers must follow West Virginia food code rules requiring at least one certified food protection manager per establishment. There is no separate Charleston-specific food handler card requirement.
West Virginia adopts the FDA Food Code through Bureau for Public Health rules, which require each food establishment to designate at least one certified food protection manager who has passed an ANSI-accredited exam such as ServSafe. Line-level food workers are not required to hold individual certifications, but employers must train staff on safe food handling and document that training. Charleston does not impose an additional city-issued food handler card. Certified manager presence is checked during Kanawha-Charleston Health Department inspections, and missing certification is a documented violation.
Operating without a certified food protection manager generates inspection violations and can escalate fines or permit risk if uncorrected on follow-up inspections.
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See how Charleston's food handler certification rules stack up against other locations.
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