Los Banos, CA Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

01 defines "food handler" expansively: cooks, dishwashers, waiters, pantry workers, busboys, soda dispensers, bakers, butchers, meat cutters, creamery workers handling dairy products sold in the City, and anyone directly or indirectly preparing or serving food, drink or confections for public consumption, on or off the premises where sold. 02 makes it unlawful to employ or permit any person to handle food without a valid health certificate signed by the Health Officer, and an operator who personally handles food needs the same certificate. 03 requires every food handler to report to a locally licensed physician for a physical exam at least once every 12 months, at the worker's own cost, and lets the Health Officer require an additional exam at their discretion.

04, the Health Officer issues the certificate after a satisfactory exam, a copy is filed with the Health Department and the employer, and the certificate prints its own expiration date and becomes void afterward. 05 makes filing that certificate a precondition of employment and requires the employer to return it to the worker upon termination. 06, punishable under the general penalty schedule in Title 1 Chapter 2.