St. Louis County, MO Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

100, bars any employer from employing someone as a food handler for more than 30 days unless the person provides written certification from a health care provider showing they are immune from hepatitis A, have been vaccinated with a booster shot given six to twelve months after the original dose, or received the initial vaccination and will follow up with a booster certification within a year. Subsection (A) requires employers to retain every food handler's written certification throughout that person's entire employment and make it available to the Department of Health on request.

Subsection (B) defines "food handler" broadly: anyone whose job requires preparing, handling or touching food (other than uncut produce), utensils, or serving or kitchen surfaces at restaurants, hospital cafeterias, school and nursing home kitchens, day care facilities, residential group homes, caterers, banquet facilities, coffee shops, taverns, sandwich stands, food vending carts and similar eating or drinking establishments; the term excludes private homes preparing food for noncommercial use and locations of food vending machines. Subsection (C) exempts pregnant employees, people who object on religious grounds by filing a notarized statement with their employer that is forwarded to the Department, and anyone with a medical contraindication verified in writing by a licensed physician; a religious exemption is deemed approved unless the Director disapproves it. Subsection (D) bars accepting food handler employment for more than 30 days in any 12-month period without meeting these certification requirements.