Food Handlers vs. Food Managers: How Do They Differ?
If you’re looking up the terms “food handler” and “food manager,” you’re probably trying to sign up for the right food safety certification. That’s because the difference between a food handler and a food manager largely concerns food safety training requirements.
Below, we’ll clarify the meaning of food handler and food manager and what kind of certification is appropriate for each role.
Food Handler vs. Food Manager
While “food manager” is something you may see as part of the title on a job listing, “food handler” almost certainly is not. Even for food managers, training may not be mapped to job titles the way you might expect.
That’s because when used together, these terms don’t refer to specific jobs but to categories of food service workers who need different levels of food safety training.
Food handlers are service workers who are only responsible for policing their own behavior to ensure food safety. This requires a basic understanding of food safety principles that apply to their job. Food managers, on the other hand, are responsible for systemic food safety compliance for a whole group of people. As a result, they need more extensive knowledge.
What Is a Food Handler?
“Food handler” is often defined by state or local regulations to clarify things for food safety compliance enforcement, but generally, you can think of a food handler as anyone who handles raw ingredients, prepared food, or food-contact surfaces. These are individuals who directly affect food safety with their behavior.
This can cover a wide variety of frontline staff in the food service or food retail industry, including:
- Waitstaff and servers
- Bartenders
- Line cooks
- Prep cooks
- Food runners
- Host staff
- Dishwashers
- Buffet attendants
- Catering staff
- Deli counter workers
- Kitchen assistants
- Food delivery workers
This isn’t an exhaustive list – anyone whose role involves the handling of food or food surfaces in a food retail or service business should be considered a food handler.
What Is a Food Manager?
In the context of food safety training, a food manager is any “person in charge” at a restaurant or store who is responsible for supervising food handlers, creating and maintaining a food safety plan, and ensuring food safety practices are consistently implemented. Due to their broader food safety responsibilities, these key players need a more extensive understanding of food safety principles.
Food managers may include roles like:
- Owners
- General managers
- Front-of-house managers
- Kitchen managers
- Chefs and sous chefs
- Food truck operators
- Other roles that supervise food handlers
In some cases, food managers also have direct food-handling responsibilities in addition to their supervisory ones. However, if they are responsible for the behavior of others, they should complete food manager training instead. Since food manager certification is more extensive, they’ll be well-prepared for their handling duties.
Food Handler Certification vs. Food Manager Certification
Food safety is vital to all food businesses. It helps protect your business from contamination and your customers from food poisoning.
The problem is that food safety regulations are complicated, and not everyone needs the same level of knowledge. People are more likely to remember and comply when the necessary information is whittled down to the necessary and relevant facts for their roles. That’s why there are two types of food safety training for restaurants: food handler certification and food manager certification.
What is Food Handler Certification?
Having food handler certification – sometimes also referred to as a food handler card – refers to the successful completion of a food handler course.
Food handler training is typically a couple of hours long, covering a basic introduction to:
- Foodborne illness
- Best practices for personal hygiene
- Time and temperature controls
- Best practices for preventing contamination and cross-contamination
- Best practices for cleaning and sanitizing
What is Food Manager Certification?
Food managers can play an enormous role in the overall food safety standards of a restaurant or food retail business. They set the tone for taking food safety seriously.
Food manager certification – sometimes known as food safety manager certification – refers to the successful completion of a food manager course. Many jurisdictions require certain positions to pass the ANAB-CFP (ANSI National Accreditation Board and the Conference for Food Protection) Food Safety Manager certification exam.
Food manager courses are 8-10 hours long. It includes a more systemic look at the topics in food handler training, as well as manager-specific knowledge. Topics include:
- Ensuring personal hygiene among staff
- Managing food holding time and temperature
- Preventing contamination, cross-contamination, and cross-contact
- Managing cooking times and temperatures
- Monitoring the flow of foods
- Actively managing controls in a food establishment
- Managing the physical food establishment/equipment design or maintenance
- Managing cleaning and sanitizing activities
The knowledge you gain from food manager certification can help you learn how to create and oversee a food safety program, prepare your business for a food safety emergency, keep your business, employees, and customers safe from contamination and food poisoning, and avoid liabilities, state law, and industry compliance issues.
Do I Need a Food Handler or Food Manager Course?
Depending on where your business operates, you may be legally required to complete a food handler or food manager course. Some jurisdictions require frontline workers to have a food handler card, while some only require food manager certification for key supervisors. Here’s a state-by-state guide to the requirements, and here’s a guide to how frequently each jurisdiction requires a renewal course.
Even if a level of food safety training isn’t legally required where you live, there are many reasons why it’s beneficial to complete the appropriate level of training. At a community level, robust food service training protects the public health. At the business level, staff-wide food safety training can improve your food inspection scores, eliminate fines, reduce the likelihood of events that cause bad press, eliminate fines, and reduce your liability for a civil lawsuit.
If you’re an individual food service worker, you might find that having a current and documented food handler card can put your resume at the top of the pile.
Which type of course is right for you? As we said before, anyone with supervisory responsibilities should seriously consider opting for the more extensive food manager certification, while everyone else should complete food handler training instead.
Where Do I Get Food Handler or Food Manager Training?
First, if food handler or food manager training is mandated by your city, state, or county, the regulatory agency usually maintains a list of accepted providers with approved courses online. You must ensure you’re taking the right course from the right provider to satisfy local food safety training compliance requirements.
If the level of food safety training you require is optional – or if there are plenty of options to choose from – you want to make sure you’re taking your course from an experienced and reputable training provider.
The third thing to consider is course format – would you rather complete food handler or food manager training online or in a classroom? Online training is a more convenient solution for many busy food service professionals. With the right online training provider, you’ll be able to work your way through the material whenever and wherever it’s best for you.
Get Started Today
We’ve been an online training compliance provider for over 20 years with a large catalog of state-approved food handler and food manager certification courses, including ANAB-CFP Food Safety Manager certification. Our food safety courses are online, self-paced, and mobile-friendly. We can help you get the food safety certification you need on your own schedule.
Head to our website to find the course you need today!
