Kentucky food code requires every permitted Lexington food service to employ a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) on staff with ANSI-accredited training such as ServSafe, demonstrated during LFCHD inspections.
Under 902 KAR 45:005, every Kentucky food service establishment must employ at least one Certified Food Protection Manager who has passed an ANSI-CFP-accredited exam (ServSafe, Prometric, NRFSP, or Above Training). The certificate is valid five years and must be available for inspector review. LFCHD verifies the CFPM credential during routine inspections; absence is a Priority Foundation violation. Lexington does not impose an additional separate food-handler card on every employee, unlike some Kentucky counties, but operators must train all staff on hygiene, time/temperature, and allergen controls. Failure to produce a current CFPM certificate triggers re-inspection and potential permit hold on new openings.
Operating without a Certified Food Protection Manager on staff is a critical inspection violation that can delay new permits, force re-inspections, and contribute to permit suspension if uncorrected.
Lexington, KY
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See how Lexington's food handler certification rules stack up against other locations.
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