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SB 476 food safety: food handlers

California has adopted the California Food Handler Card Law pursuant to SB 602 which was enacted into law in 2010.

Existing law, with specified exceptions, requires a food handler to obtain a food handler card within 30 days of their date of hire and to maintain a valid food handler card for the duration of their employment as a food handler. 

Food worker cutting into pizza

Food handler cards shall be valid for three years from the date of issuance, regardless of whether the food handler changes employers during that period.

The food handler training course and examination may be offered through a trainer-led class and examination, through the use of a computer program or the internet, or through a combination of trainer-led class and the use of a computer program or the internet.

Exceptions:

  1. Certified farmer’s markets        
  2. Commissaries  
  3. Grocery stores
    • Separately owned food facilities within the grocery store will still require a food handler card.
  4. Licensed health care facilities.
  5. Mobile support units.
  6. Public and private school cafeterias.
  7. Restricted food service facilities.
  8. Retail stores in which a majority of sales are from a pharmacy.

For more information:

CDPH retail food safety training document where the ANSI links are listed:

Retail food safety training (ca.gov)

ANSI Food handler card training:

All directory listing (ansi.org)

ANSI food manager training:

ANAB - ANSI National Accreditation Board

Related Links