Food safety is a serious concern for anyone working in the foodservice industry. More than an estimated 9.9 million foodborne illnesses occur in the United States each year.1 An understanding of food safety best practices can help you prevent foodborne illness outbreaks and protect yourself and customers in equal measure.
At Trust20, we believe it is critical for everyone working in a food establishment to take part in building a culture of food safety. From the operator to the bartender to the host, each individual contributes to the food safety practices within an establishment.
No matter your role, we’re here to help you develop your skills, advance your career, and promote food safety. Our trainings, certifications, and resources are designed to help foodservice professionals like you learn the leading food safety best practices in the most accessible and engaging format possible.
However, do you know what training or certification will help you the most? Do you know if you are required to complete a training or earn a certification on a particular schedule?
If the answer is no, don’t stress! Read on for a guide to all of Trust20’s offerings.
This blog will cover:
What food safety training does Trust20 offer?
What food safety certifications does Trust20 offer?
How do I know if I’m required to complete a training or certification?
What food safety training does Trust20 offer?
We offer four different training courses that can help several foodservice workers at every level grow their food safety expertise and develop more confidence in their work. Let’s review each of them.
Food Handler Certificate Training
Trust20’s food handler certificate training is designed for anyone who comes into contact with food in their day-to-day work or who is interested in learning basic food safety information and best practices. The course is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and can help foodservice workers meet state requirements for food hander cards or a minimum number of training hours.
The course is divided into nine modules and covers the essentials of food safety, including:
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How food becomes unsafe
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Health and personal hygiene
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Time and temperature control
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Preparing and handling food
Other key details about Trust20’s Food Handler Certificate Training:
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You must pass a 45-question final assessment to earn your certificate of completion.
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You have two attempts to earn at least a 70% (the minimum passing score).
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Your food handler’s certificate (or food handlers card) is valid for three years unless your local health department has other guidelines.
Food Allergy Certificate Training
Trust20’s food allergy certificate training is designed for food handlers, shift leaders, managers, operators, teachers who oversee snack time, certified dietary managers (CDMs), and beyond. It is also ANAB-accredited and can help can help foodservice workers, like certified food protection managers in Illinois, meet state requirements for allergen awareness training or CDMs earn continuing education credits.
The course is divided into eight modules and covers critical information about food allergen safety, including:
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Recognizing signs and symptoms
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Reading food labels
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Communicating about food allergens effectively
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Responding to an emergency caused by an allergic reaction
Other key details about Trust20’s Food Allergy Certificate Training:
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You must pass a 35-question final assessment to earn your certificate of completion.
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You have two attempts to earn at least an 80% (the minimum passing score).
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Your online Food Allergy Certificate is valid for three years unless your local jurisdiction has other guidelines.
Food Protection Manager Training
Trust20’s ANAB-accredited food protection manager training is designed for anyone in a leadership role in the food industry–or who hopes to get promoted to a management position or open a food business. It can help you learn essential food safety management skills and help you prepare for the food protection manager certification exam experience.
The course is divided into ten modules and covers topics such as:
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Threats to food safety
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Purchasing, receiving, and storing food
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Safe facilities
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Food preparation and service
Other key details about Trust20’s Food Protection Manager Training:
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You must pass an 85-question final assessment to earn your certificate of completion.
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You have two attempts to earn at least a 75% (the minimum passing score).
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Your certificate of completion is valid for five years unless your local authority has other guidelines.
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Your certificate of completion is NOT the same as a Food Protection Manager Certification.
Alcohol Server Training
Our alcohol server training is designed for anyone who works in an establishment that serves alcohol. It can help you learn critical best practices for creating a safe environment when alcohol is in the mix.
The course is divided into five modules and covers topics such as:
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Alcohol laws and regulations
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Physical impacts of alcohol
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Prevention of customer intoxication
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Principles of safe alcohol service
Other key details about Trust20’s Alcohol Server Training:
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State requirements for alcohol server training vary, including expiration dates for training. For example, Connecticut doesn’t require alcohol server training certificates (though it is recommended) nor does the state set an expiration date.
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Most states, counties, and cities recommend or require you take a course every two to three years.
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Even if Alcohol Server Training isn’t required, it can help reduce liability risks to you and your establishment.
As you can see, Trust20 has a variety of training options available for anyone making a career in the foodservice industry. Next, let’s take a look at a way to level-up your expertise and boost your resume: Trust20’s certification offerings.
What food safety certifications does Trust20 offer?
We currently offer one food safety certification–and it is essential for kitchen and culinary leadership as well as restaurant and business management. Let’s look at it more closely.
Food Protection Manager Certification
Our online, remote-protected food protection manager certification program is accredited by ANAB, as well as the Conference for Food Protection (CFP). It was created to help managers, operators, executive chefs, CDMs, food and beverage directors, and beyond earn their food protection manager certification in a more convenient and accessible environment.
Key details about Trust20’s Food Protection Manager Certification:
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The exam is available in English or Spanish and consists of 80 questions.
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You have one, two-hour attempt to pass your certification exam.
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You can take your exam the same day you purchase access to the testing platform.
How do I know if I’m required to complete a training or certification?
Each state, county, and city has different requirements when it comes to training and certification requirements–and the requirements vary broadly.
On one side of the spectrum, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services does not require food handler training and it only “highly recommends” managers earn a food protection manager certification. And on the other side, the Ohio Department of Health requires that almost all foodservice establishments have someone with an Ohio person-in-charge certification and someone with an Ohio manager certification on staff–and at least one of these food safety leaders must be present during all hours of operation.
It is important to know the requirements in your area so you are prepared for success in your role–and avoid costly fines from the health department.
You can learn about the food safety training and certification requirements for working in your establishment by:
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Contacting the state and local health departments
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Asking your employer or manager
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Reviewing our state requirements database
Whether or not you are required to complete food safety training or earn a certification, they are a critical step to becoming more confident in your work, stay up to date on the latest food safety standards, and help you stand out among job applicants as someone who takes food safety seriously.
The Takeaway
Food safety has long been the guiding principle of every establishment and team in the foodservice industry. It dictates how cleanliness and sanitation practices are carried out and ensures the health and safety of staff and customers. So whether you are a brand new server about to hit the floor or a veteran certified food protection manager, Trust20 is here to help you stay on top of your food safety training and certification, protect your customers, and get ahead in your foodservice career.
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