Get your MN kitchen compliant with our state-approved Certified Food Protection Manager Training. We’re offering headache-free 8-hour initial courses and 4-hour renewals.

Wizard of Oz Answers to Food Code Questions after Online Food Safety Certification

Food Code Questions After Online Food Safety Certification

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Our online food safety certification courses cover everything that students must know in order to obtain their food manager certificates, but who do they turn to when something comes up that they either do not recall or they find themselves in a situation that was not covered in the course? While we attempt to make sure that you leave our training with everything that you need to know, there can always be gaps in even the most well prepared training courses.

Wizard of Oz Answers to Food Code Questions after Online Food Safety Certification

Image credit: The Wizard of Oz (1939) | by twm1340 via Flickr

Answers to Food Code Questions after Online Food Safety Certification

Fortunately, we live in the digital age where information is readily available from our PCs, smartphones and iPads, but if we have learned anything about the World Wide Web, it is that many resources lead you in the wrong direction. A popular quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln says it all; “Not everything that you read on the internet is true.” Where do you find reliable sources when you have food safety questions that you need answered right away?
We have compiled a short list of official websites that will give you a good start into your research:

In our opinion, these three sites are invaluable resources for those looking for information not contained in online food safety certification courses. We recommend starting with The Minnesota Food Code. This is the official website for the Minnesota Department of Health and contains links to both the complete food code and food, beverage and hospitality regulations. Some cities and counties have passed rules that are stricter than the food code that governs the state, so when in doubt give your local health department a call for clarification. They will be able to give you a definitive answer on nearly any topic.

We also feel like taking an instructor led food safety certification course grants the opportunity for students to ask more questions and engage in topics that are not covered in online resources. If you and your staff are inquisitive by nature, we recommend you consider taking one of our food safety classes where you have the opportunity to learn from an educated instructor.

We like to do whatever we can to make food safety certification obtainable. If you have any special requirements, just contact us and we will be happy to help.

New Year’s Online Food Manager Certification Renewal

New Year’s Online Food Manager Certification Renewal

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This month, we celebrated a huge milestone and released our 100th food safety blog. While we could rest on our laurels, we are going to renew our dedication to helping keep the food produced in our state as safe as possible. With the ringing in of the New Year, we resolve to continue providing convenient HACCP online training and certification, informative instructor led classes and pertinent information and food safety tips in our blog. This is also a time for food service workers to reflect on the past year, and prepare to continue in their efforts to keep their guests safe. One way to do that is to make sure that all of your certifications are in order.

 

Online Food Manager Certification Renewal

For ease of record keeping and in order to stay compliant with the Minnesota food code, a copy of all employees’ food safety certifications should be readily accessible. We also recommend sorting your employee food handler’s licenses by date of expiration, so that you know which employees are due to take a renewal course.

The New Year is the perfect time to remind your staff to take care of their food safety training. January tends to be a slower month for the food industry, so finding the time to schedule classes and examinations is easier when business is slow.

We understand that employees are also brought on at many times of the year, so diligence is necessary year round, but we have heard from food industry managers that training employees in groups rather that one at a time over the course of the year makes for a smoother process. If you have several employees that are due for renewal within a reasonable time frame, it is not uncommon to renew a few employees’ certifications well before the expiration date.

Finally, this is also a good time to make sure that your designated food safety manager has their certifications up to date. There are multiple certifications that the state of Minnesota accepts, and depending on which one your company requires, January is a good time to take an online food manager certification course for:

  • • Certified Food Safety Manager (NRFSP)
  • ServSafe
  • Prometric certified Food Manager
  • Learn2Serve Protection Manager

NRFSP and ServSafe are the two most commonly taken training courses, and we can help tailor a course that specifically addresses your needs whether you require full staff training or simply need a refresher course before taking any renewal exam.

MN Certified Food Manager Training and the Private Chef

MN Certified Food Manager Training and the Private Chef

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When we offer MN certified food manager training, we teach students from every sector of the industry. In one of our recent sessions, we had a student whose goal was to become a private chef and offer catering services and culinary classes to individuals and small groups in their own homes. One question that was asked was if there were any special regulations that applied to private chefs that differ from the standard rules that apply to institutions, food producers and restaurants. We thought this was an interesting discussion, so we felt it beneficial to share some information that we have learned.

MN Certified Food Manager Training and the Private Chef

Image credit: Flickr

MN Certified Food Manager Training and the Personal Chef

While conducting our research, we found that there are a few different regulations that vary by county or metro area, but there are four licenses or certifications that most jurisdictions will require:

  • Minnesota Food Manager Certification
  • A License to Run a Food Establishment
  • A Catering License
  • A Federal Tax ID (EIN)

If you’re considering becoming a personal chef, we suggest that you contact your local government office to find out which licenses you need in your particular jurisdiction. If you need your MN certified food manager training, we would be happy to tailor a course designed specifically for your catering venture.

There are a few other aspects of being a personal chef that differ from regular catering services. While in many cases it is acceptable to prepare food for clients at their home or other location, you should be aware that most jurisdictions will require you to have a preparation and storage facility that can be inspected by the health department. This presents a unique challenge for many personal chefs whose clientele consists of a small number of people.

We have been asked if private chefs are allowed to use their own personal home kitchens to prepare food before transporting it to a client’s location. Unfortunately, this is not an acceptable solution according the health inspector we discussed this scenario with. Many private chefs solve this problem by leasing space from other caterers with industrial kitchens or local restaurants who are willing to allow them access to their kitchen before they begin their service for the day.

Personal chefs are not the only unique part of the food industry. If you’re considering any food based business that doesn’t quite conform to industry standards, please leave your ideas in the comments section and we’ll do our best to cover it in a future article.