Anyone preparing or serving food in a Portland restaurant must obtain an Oregon Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire, per ORS 624.570 and Multnomah County rules. The card is valid statewide for three years.
Oregon law requires every food service worker, including bartenders garnishing drinks, to hold a valid food handler card. Workers complete a short course covering temperature control, cross-contamination, handwashing, and allergen awareness, then pass a 30-question test with at least 75 percent correct. Cards are issued by Multnomah County for about ten dollars and accepted statewide. Employers must keep copies on file and produce them on inspector request. Lost cards can be reprinted online. The certificate must be renewed every three years; expired cards count as a priority violation during inspection.
Working without a valid card, employing uncertified staff, or failing to produce cards during inspection results in a per-employee fine and counts toward priority violations on the next semiannual restaurant score.
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