Someone outside the industry may think a job in foodservice is limited to high school students flipping burgers at the closest fast food chain or a bustling server at a busy brunch service–but we all know better.
Foodservice is a rich and multi-faceted industry with many different career paths. The expertise needed to succeed can come from quick thinking, strong communication, emotional intelligence, food science, and more. While different positions may require unique daily skills, almost every role in the foodservice industry benefits from some level of food safety training (and many require it!).
Read on to learn about the requirements and responsibilities of various positions within several sectors of the foodservice industry and why food safety training matters in those roles.
Restaurant
Server
Average US Salary: $20,000-$40,000
Requirements and responsibilities
Servers play a key role in the restaurant industry. They take customer orders, answer questions, and ensure the customer has a great experience. It’s often essential for a server to multitask and have good communication skills.
Why food safety training matters
Food safety is one of the most crucial parts of a server's job. They must keep tables clean and practice proper hygiene when serving food to customers. Knowledge of food allergies is also important to any server's job. Servers must know how to handle serving allergen-safe food and how to handle an allergic reaction in case of an emergency.
What training should they take?
Anyone who works directly with food should be trained in safe food handling practices, so a food handler certificate training is the best place to start. Allergen awareness training is an excellent next step for people who directly interact with customers or have team members who must prepare allergy-safe foods.
Line Cook
Average US Salary: $20,000-$40,000
Requirements and responsibilities
Restaurant cooks are responsible for keeping the kitchen clean and preparing food for customers. They keep orders organized and their space clean, essential to preventing foodborne illness and cross-contamination. A line cook's key responsibilities include preparing food on time, collaborating with team members, and ensuring food is served in its best condition.
Why food safety training matters
Food safety training requirements vary by state, but most states require it in various ways. Restaurant cooks are often required to receive food handler training since they are the first point of contact for customers' food.
What training should they take?
All cooks come directly into contact with food, so a food handler card is often required. Food allergy training is also important for line cooks to avoid cross-contamination between allergens.
Restaurant Manager
Average US Salary: $30,000-$50,000
Requirements and responsibilities
Food managers oversee all sides of the restaurant. They are responsible for helping the kitchen when needed and assisting all other employees. The role of a food manager requires many skills that are key to success, such as time management, communication, teamwork, and multitasking.
Why food safety training matters
Food managers need to stay up-to-date about changes in food safety training requirements. Food managers must hold all employees accountable when practicing food safety and be knowledgeable about best practices.
What training should they take?
Food managers, particularly those new to the position, would benefit from a food manager certificate training to learn how to lead their team and keep customers safe from foodborne illness.
Education
Teacher
Average US Salary: $40,000-$70,000
Requirements and responsibilities
Even though teachers' primary responsibility is educating, they must closely monitor the food brought into the classroom. Teachers can enforce safe food handling habits to keep students safe. Home economics or culinary teachers especially need skills in food safety to teach a clean and safe class.
Why food safety training matters
Teaching multiple students can mean multiple different allergies in the classroom. Teachers and other students may not know that a student has a severe food allergy or intolerance, so practicing food safety is essential in this environment. When using food in the classroom, you’re responsible for being aware of possible food allergies and knowing how to prevent and manage an allergic reaction.
What training should they take?
Snacks in a classroom setting can pose a serious hazard to students with allergies. Teachers can use a Food Allergy Certificate training to learn how to properly serve food to students with allergies and keep food serving spaces safe from cross-contact.
School Cook
Average US Salary: $20,000-$40,000
Requirements and responsibilities
School cooks prepare large quantities of food for a large body of students. They must keep a clean preparation area to prevent foodborne illness. It is also important to separate foods with potential allergens from others to avoid cross-contamination and cross-contact.
Why food safety training matters
Handling a large amount of food can lead to food sources becoming unsafe. Understanding what makes a food source unsafe can prevent a foodborne illness outbreak among students and staff.
What training should they take?
Like a restaurant cook, people preparing food in a school cafeteria should also take food handler and food allergy training to learn about safely serving food to students and staff.
Cafeteria Manager
Average US Salary: $20,000-$50,000
Requirements and responsibilities
A cafeteria manager oversees inventory and must follow state and federal regulations. Any food manager must ensure all food is safe to serve and account for all students with allergies or special diets.
Why food safety training matters
The role of a food manager requires food safety training, especially when handling a large amount of food. Suppose you serve a vulnerable population with many dietary needs, allergies, or intolerances. In that case, you must have food safety education and ensure all employees also have food safety training.
What training should they take?
Cafeteria managers need a deep understanding of food safety because they oversee the service of a large amount of food. They may want (or need!) to take a food manager certificate course to help their team practice food safety effectively.
Healthcare
Cafeteria Employee
Average US Salary: $20,000-$40,000
Requirements and responsibilities
Cleanliness is one of the most critical responsibilities of a cafeteria employee in a healthcare setting. Hospitals and nursing homes must uphold high cleaning standards to keep patients safe. Cafeteria employees must also ensure they serve patients the correct foods based on dietary needs.
Why food safety training matters
Food safety includes how you handle food and how you prepare and clean space for your food. Proper hygiene practices are also important for food safety, especially in healthcare.
What training should they take?
Food handler certificate training can teach cafeteria employees the importance of keeping a clean kitchen and how to serve food to patients and their loved ones safely.
Registered Dietitian
Average US Salary: $50,000-$80,000
Requirements and responsibilities
Registered dietitians often provide nutrition plans to patients. They help patients with dietary restrictions receive proper nutrition and stay healthy. Registered dietitians can also help treat patients with chronic illnesses and health conditions through specific nutrition plans.
Why food safety training matters
Registered dietitians spend time in the kitchen discussing menu items and ensuring their patients are served meals according to their nutrition plans. Even if they are not serving food to patients, they are still required to practice food safety when in the kitchen and working near food.
What training should they take?
Registered Dietitians should take a food allergy training course to learn about preventing and managing the food allergies of their patients.
Director of Food Services
Average US Salary: $40,000-$80,000
Requirements and responsibilities
The director of food services in healthcare oversees all patients, visitors, and employees in terms of food services. They ensure all patients have adequate food service and that their patients’ dietary needs are being met. Since they manage the kitchen, they keep track of all inventory and food shipments sent to the facility.
Why food safety training matters
This role requires the same training as other food managers. Healthcare positions usually require years of experience when it comes to management positions. An experienced candidate is much more familiar with food safety situations in healthcare and has more knowledge about essential food safety practices.
What training should they take?
A director of food services should take a food manager certificate training so they are fully equipped to handle any food safety scenario with their team.
Childcare
Nanny
Average US Salary: $20,000-$60,000
Requirements and responsibilities
Providing childcare is the primary responsibility of nannies, so where does food safety come in? Nannies are often responsible for packing lunches, tidying the house, and supervising children during activities. With such a busy schedule, nannies can find themselves in difficult situations involving food safety.
Why food safety training matters
Food safety training is important for childcare in many ways. Watching what children eat can help avoid allergic reactions and prevent hazardous food-related accidents. Keeping a clean food preparation space can also help prevent foodborne illnesses from affecting children.
What training should they take?
Food handler and food allergy trainings can help nannies serve food to children safely and manage allergic reactions. Young children must avoid consuming any dangerous food as their systems may not be strong enough to fight the reaction or illness effectively, so nannies need to understand food safety in this context.
Daycare Employee
Average US Salary: $30,000-$50,000
Requirements and responsibilities
Daycare employee responsibilities are very similar to the duties of a nanny. However, daycare employees commonly watch much larger groups of children and must keep big facilities clean. Since they care for many children at once in a big space, they must keep a close eye on the cleanliness of the food preparation space and avoid any cross-contact.
Why food safety training matters
Since a larger group of children is under supervision in a daycare environment, employees will regularly serve a much more considerable amount of food. Daycare employees must be aware of children with food allergies and ensure they don’t come in contact with allergens or children consuming possible allergens. They also must keep food serving areas clean to protect children from harmful bacteria.
What training should they take?
Like a nanny position, daycare employees should take food handler and food allergy training to keep children safe from allergic reactions and foodborne illnesses at a much larger scale.
These positions only scratch the surface of the opportunities available in the foodservice industry. All foodservice careers require some knowledge of food safety. Whether you're a food manager, chef, or school teacher, food safety training is necessary to protect your customers.
