Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Food Safe School Action Guide
- Food Safety Project-Iowa State University Extension
- FoodSafety.gov
- Serving it Safe, 3rd Edition
- Thermometer Information Resource
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
Food Safety Inspection Requirement
- CN 11-08 Food Safety Inspections in Non-Traditional School Settings – January 2008
- Final Rule: School Food Safety Inspections 09-02-2009
- Memo: CN 28-05 School Food Safety Inspections
- USDA Memo – Food Safety Q & A
Food Code
County Health Departments “Map of Arizona and County boundaries”
Below are the Arizona Counties, their corresponding Health Department websites (when available), and some additional helpful information about the Food Code and food service employee requirements provided by the Environmental Health Directors of each county.
Apache County
There is not a distinction between the food service employee and food service manager in Apache County. All employees and managers are responsible for demonstrating adequate food safety knowledge applicable to their operation (job tasks). All employees and managers are encouraged to obtain a food handler’s card from Apache County.
Cochise County
Please visit the Cochise County website for information about the County’s Food Handler’s Study Guides.
Coconino County
This county administers their own county-based course for Food Handlers and Food Managers (call 928-226-7241 for more information). Requires that a certified Food Manager be present in the food establishment at all times and that at least 50% of food servers must also be certified through the Coconino County Food Handler’s Course. Coconino County has developed its own food code. The primary differences are the hot holding temperature is 140 degrees Fahrenheit (Arizona Food Code is 130 degrees Fahrenheit) and during inspections, the person in-charge must demonstrate his/her knowledge by being in compliance with the Food Code, responding to the inspector’s questions as they relate to the food operation, and being a certified Food Manager through the County’s Food Manager’s Course.
Gila County
This county requires Food Service employees to obtain a Gila County Food Handler’s Card (Self-Study or ½ hour class and open-book test); Requires Food Service managers to obtain a nationally recognized Food Safety Manager certification. Gila County accepted the delegation from the State of Arizona of the portions of the FDA Food Code adopted by Arizona.
La Paz County
Requires all food service employees have yearly food handler cards (watch a video, read study guide, take the test). Food Service managers do not have to become certified, but must demonstrate knowledge or be in compliance with the food code at the time of inspection. The Arizona Food Code has also been adopted by La Paz County.
Maricopa County
The County Food Code is available on the website along with Food Service Worker program information.
Mohave County
All food service employees must have a Mohave County food handler’s card (good for 3 years) and one certified Food Protection Manager must be at each establishment. The Mohave County regulations differ from the Arizona Food Code in that hot food must be held at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, food service workers who are pre-paring ready-to-eat food must wear non-latex gloves at all times-no variances are granted. Additionally, Mohave County requires that the operation permit, inspection rating, and food borne illness information (provided by the county) be posted in a conspicuous place.
Navajo County
The Navajo County Food Code contains minimal, not critical, differences from the FDA Food Code. Food service establishments are urged to obtain the minimum Food Manager Certification, and food service employees are to obtain food safety certification, but due to a lack of training opportunities, these standards are not enforced in Navajo County.
Pinal County
The Arizona Food Code is followed and enforced in Pinal County. There is currently not a requirement for food service workers or managers, but this may change in the near future.
Yavapai County
All food service employees are required to either attend a basic food worker certification class or complete a workbook and pass a test. Food service managers are required to attend a Food Safety Manager Certification course.
Training Opportunities
Food Safety Manager Training Classes
- March 24-25, 2011; Flagstaff, AZ
ADE offers a two-day Serving It Safe Training to help you prepare for the Food Safety Manager Examination from the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP). ADE Administers the NRFSP Test at the end of the training. - Additonal Food Safety Manager Trainings will be posted in the near future.
- Maricopa County Testing Dates for Food Service Workers are available on the Maricopa County Website
- Visit your County’s website for more information on county-based training and testing
Online Training
Dirty Dining Reports
Are you curious to find out the food safety inspection ratings of area schools and restaurants? Maricopa County has made this information available to the public. To find out more information, visit the Maricopa County website and click on Restaurant Ratings on the left side of the webpage. From there, you may enter in the name of the school or food establishment and find out the results of the recent heath inspections.
