100% Food Handler Card Compliance Program

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

Education of food industry workers is one of the most effective methods to ensure proper food handling and prevention of foodborne illness. Both California Retail Food Code and San Bernardino County law require all food handlers to have valid food safety certifications. However, food facilities were historically non-compliant with this regulation. The County of San Bernardino, Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) created a 100% Food Handler Card Compliance (FHCC) Program to ensure compliance with the food handler card ordinance. Food facilities now must provide proof of 100% compliance with the county ordinance. Facilities which fail to comply face billable re-inspections and permit suspension / revocation hearings, which ultimately guarantee compliance. These enforcement activities ensure that all food facilities reach 100% compliance in a timely manner. The effective implementation of this program has yielded tangible, measurable results. Facilities which are fully compliant with the food handler card ordinance have lower violation rates, including lower rates of critical CDC risk factor violations, as compared to facilities that are not compliant. This program promotes public health and safety, and serves to lower the risk of potential foodborne illness.