CRA offers Santa Clara restaurant workers free ServSafe California Food Handler Cards

(SACRAMENTO, Feb. 7, 2012) – The deadline to comply with the new California Food Handler Card law came and went Jan. 1, affecting as many as 800,000 foodservice workers in the state, including nearly 60,000 in Santa Clara County, according to the Employment Development Department (EDD), many of whom may have been recently hired or are still in need of the training from an approved provider so they can file a valid card with their employer.

To assist with the discrepancy, the California Restaurant Association (CRA) has launched a food handler program in Santa Clara County aimed at providing employees with the training and testing they need as part of a major effort to boost CRA membership in the area, in partnership with the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe® program.

Santa Clara restaurant operators who join the CRA before March 31 will receive 10 free vouchers for ServSafe’s online food handler training and tests, a $150 value.  

“This is a win-win for restaurant employees and operators,” CRA President and CEO Jot Condie said.   “We know many operators in Santa Clara are compliant with the law, but those who still have employees who need food handler cards, or plan to hire any new employees this year, will see a significant savings when they join the CRA.”  

The law creates a statewide standard for safe food handling practices in California’s restaurants by requiring food handlers to undergo basic food safety training and pass an exam demonstrating their knowledge. The law was designed to ensure restaurant employees receive a reasonable level of food safety training to reduce the potential for foodborne illness. Food handlers must provide a copy of their cards to their employers, who are required to maintain files to present during the health inspection process upon request.

ServSafe training fulfills the requirements of the law, and includes a suite of options for employees to obtain a card, both online and in print for classroom learning environments. Employees can take the training and test online in English and Spanish. Also, ServSafe’s bilingual help desk is available to answer questions in English and Spanish at 866.901.7778 or foodhandler@servsafe.com.

To learn more about the CRA and take advantage of the offer, go online at calrest.org/siliconvalley.