MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services is offering food handling certification courses in Jamestown, Dunkirk and Mayville.
All food service establishments permitted by the Public Health Director are required to have a least one individual, who is in a position of management or control involved in the routine operation of the establishment, complete a food handler training course approved by the Public Health Director.
The Certified Food Handler Training Program will teach participants the following basic principles of safe food handling:
- Causes and prevention of foodborne illness;
- Proper methods of thawing, cooking, hot-holding, cooling and reheating;
- Hand washing/hygiene;
- Sanitation;
- Food Allergens; and
- Rules and regulations, including Subpart 14-1 of the New York State Sanitary Code (Food Service Establishments).
Christine Schuyler, Director of Health and Human Services, said, “According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the majority of foodborne illnesses in the Unites States are attributed to public eating establishments. Safeguard the health of your customers and employees by taking steps such as this to ensure that your employees consistently prepare and serve food in a safe and sanitary manner.”
The initial Certified Food Handler Training must be a three-hour classroom training or another approved training like SERVSAFE and certifications remain valid for five years. Trainings occur once per year in Dunkirk, Jamestown, and Mayville.
After five years, certifications require renewal at an in person training or via a newly approved on-line refresher course. The online video-based training is ANSI-certified and follows the 2013 FDA guidelines. The online course takes approximately two hours to complete, and provides a certificate with passing of the final exam.
For class schedule and current pricing, refer to the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services Environmental Health Division website FHST.healthyCHQ.com or call 716-753-4481.