1.4.5.1: Training of Staff Who Handle Food

All staff members with food handling responsibilities should obtain training in food service and safety. The director of a center or a large family child care home or the designated supervisor for food service should be a certified food protection manager or equivalent as demonstrated by completing an accredited food protection manager course. Small family child care personnel should secure training in food service and safety appropriate for their setting.

RATIONALE

Outbreaks of foodborne illness have occurred in many settings, including child care facilities. Some of these outbreaks have led to fatalities and severe disabilities. Young children are particularly susceptible to foodborne illness, due to their body size and immature immune systems. Because large centers serve more meals daily than many restaurants do, the supervisors of food handlers in these settings should have successfully completed food service certification, and the food handlers in these settings should have successfully completed courses on appropriate food handling (1).

COMMENTS

Sponsors of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provide this training for some small family child care home caregivers/teachers. For training in food handling, caregivers/teachers should contact the state or local health department, or the delegate agencies that handle nutrition and environmental health inspection programs for the child care facility. Training for food workers is mandatory in some jurisdictions. Other sources for food safety information are the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code, family child care associations, child care resource and referral agencies, licensing agencies, and state departments of education.

TYPE OF FACILITY

Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home

RELATED STANDARDS

9.4.3.3 Training Record

REFERENCES

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2009. Food code 2009. College Park, MD: FDA. http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/RetailFoodProtection/FoodCode/FoodCode2009/default.htm.