California requires most restaurant employees who handle unpackaged food to obtain a Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire. The card comes from an ANSI-accredited online course and is valid for three years statewide.
Under the California Retail Food Code (Health and Safety Code 113948), food handlers in restaurants and most retail food facilities must obtain a Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire. The card requires an ANSI-accredited training and exam, typically completed online for under twenty dollars, and is valid for three years. Certified Food Protection Managers under H&S 113947 carry a separate, more rigorous certification. Sacramento County EMD inspectors verify card records during routine inspections. Employers must maintain copies on-site for review. Some categories such as temporary food facilities and certain produce stands are exempt.
Operating without required food handler cards or failing to produce records during inspection results in inspection violations, potential fines, and required corrective action before reinspection.
Sacramento, CA
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Sacramento, CA
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See how Sacramento's food handler certification rules stack up against other locations.
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