Denver Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification Rules (2026)

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.