Colorado C.R.S. 25-4-1604 and the Retail Food Establishment Rules require every Denver food establishment to have a Certified Food Protection Manager on staff. Denver DDPHE accepts ANSI-CFP accredited courses and verifies certification at routine inspections.
Colorado Revised Statutes 25-4-1604 and the Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules require every retail food establishment to designate a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) who has passed an ANSI-CFP accredited course such as ServSafe, Prometric, or 360training. Denver DDPHE inspectors verify the CFPM credential during routine inspections. The CFPM ensures employees follow safe food handling, time-and-temperature controls, allergen management, and personal hygiene protocols. Colorado does not yet require every food handler to hold an individual handler card, but DDPHE strongly recommends it and many Denver employers provide in-house training. Mobile vendors and food trucks need a CFPM on the operating route. Failure to maintain certification triggers DDPHE Notice of Violation and reinspection.
Operating a Denver food establishment without a CFPM violates Colorado Retail Food Rules and DRMC chapter 24, with reinspection fees, fines up to $999 per violation through municipal court, and license suspension for repeat noncompliance.
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See how Denver's food handler certification rules stack up against other locations.
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