All Courses Training Packages Enterprise Request a Quote
Industries
Construction Manufacturing Municipal & Utilities Oil & Gas Transportation Healthcare Office & Corporate
Course Categories
Safety Training Construction Safety HR Compliance HAZMAT & HAZWOPER Driver & Fleet Safety Workplace Culture & Soft Skills Healthcare & Patient Safety Environmental Compliance
Sign In
Create Your Employer Account

Restaurant - Sanitation And Health Food Service Workers

25 minutesENSafety TrainingFDA Food Code; State Health Department Regulations; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.141
Quick Answer

Restaurant - Sanitation and Health for Food Service Workers is a 25-minute online course that teaches food service employees proper sanitation procedures, food contamination prevention, and health safety practices as outlined by the FDA Food Code. It is designed for restaurant workers, food handlers, and food service supervisors and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

The CDC estimates that roughly 48 million Americans experience foodborne illness each year, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Restaurants and food service establishments are frequent sources of outbreaks, and state health departments enforce strict sanitation standards. A single confirmed foodborne illness incident can trigger mandatory closure, fines ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the jurisdiction, and lasting reputational damage. Employers who operate food service establishments have a legal obligation to ensure employees are trained on sanitation and safe food handling procedures.

This course covers the essential sanitation and health practices your food service employees need to prevent contamination and maintain compliance with local and state health codes. Your team will learn proper food storage temperatures, cleaning and sanitizing procedures, personal hygiene requirements, and how to identify common sources of contamination including pests, cross-contact, and improper handling. The training addresses both front-of-house and back-of-house responsibilities to provide comprehensive coverage for your entire food service operation.

What You'll Learn

  • Food contamination sources including biological, chemical, and physical hazards
  • Proper food storage temperatures and the temperature danger zone
  • Cleaning versus sanitizing procedures for food contact surfaces
  • Personal hygiene requirements for food handlers including hand washing protocols
  • Pest prevention and identification in food service environments
  • Safe food storage practices including FIFO rotation and labeling
  • Cross-contamination prevention between raw and ready-to-eat foods
  • Common health code violations and how to avoid them

Who Needs This Training

  • Restaurant cooks, prep workers, and kitchen staff handling food products
  • Food servers, bussers, and front-of-house employees in dining establishments
  • Food service supervisors and shift managers responsible for health compliance
  • Catering company employees preparing and transporting food off-site
  • Cafeteria and institutional food service workers in schools and corporate settings
  • New hires in any food service role requiring health department compliance

Regulatory Background

The FDA Food Code serves as the model regulatory framework for food safety in the United States, and most state and local health departments adopt some version of it as the basis for restaurant inspections. The Food Code requires that food establishments designate a certified food protection manager and that all food handlers receive training on safe food handling practices. State health departments conduct routine inspections and can issue citations, fines, or closure orders for violations. Penalties vary by jurisdiction but can range from $250 to $10,000 or more per violation depending on severity. Repeat violations or confirmed foodborne illness outbreaks can result in permit revocation. While OSHA does not directly regulate food safety, its General Duty Clause and sanitation standards (29 CFR 1910.141) apply to the workplace conditions in which food service employees operate.

Frequently Asked Questions

This course provides foundational sanitation and food safety training, but state food handler certification requirements vary significantly. Some states require specific state-approved food handler courses and examinations. Check your state or local health department requirements to determine whether additional certification is needed. This course is an effective training tool for onboarding and refresher purposes regardless of state-specific certification requirements.
The most frequently cited violations during restaurant inspections include improper food holding temperatures, inadequate hand washing, cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods, improper cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces, and pest evidence. This course addresses each of these areas to help your team avoid the violations that most commonly result in citations and corrective action orders.
Most state health departments require food handler training at the time of hire and at regular intervals thereafter - typically every two to three years for certification renewal. However, best practice is to conduct annual refresher training and additional training when new menu items, equipment, or procedures are introduced, or after any health inspection findings that indicate knowledge gaps.
The temperature danger zone is between 41 degrees F (5 degrees C) and 135 degrees F (57 degrees C). Bacteria multiply rapidly in this range, and food held in the danger zone for more than four hours total must be discarded. Cold foods must be kept at 41 degrees F or below, and hot foods at 135 degrees F or above. This course covers proper temperature monitoring and holding procedures for both cold and hot food items.
Yes. Employers who fail to train food handlers on sanitation and safe food practices face significant liability exposure. If a foodborne illness outbreak is traced to an employee who was not properly trained, the employer can face regulatory penalties, civil lawsuits, and increased insurance costs. Documented training records demonstrate due diligence and can be a critical defense in both regulatory proceedings and litigation.
$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

$24.95
per person