Food Managers Certification

What type of Food Establishments are required to have a Certified Food Manager?

Food service establishments as defined in section 381.0072, Florida Statutes, are required to meet manager certification requirements, unless otherwise exempted. All establishments required to have a certified food manager shall designate in writing the food service manager or managers for each location. The establishments include, but are not limited to:

The following types of food service establishments are exempted from Department of Health manager certification requirements:

What are the responsibilities of a Certified Food Manager?

It shall be the responsibility of the certified manager or managers to inform all employees under their supervision and control who engage in the storage, preparation, or serving of food, to do so in accordance with acceptable sanitary practices as described in the Food Hygiene Rule, Chapter 64E-11 (PDF file, 260 KB), Florida Administrative Code.

Establishments that serve highly susceptible populations (a group of persons who are more likely than other populations to experience foodborne disease because they are immunocompromised or older adults institutionalized or preschool age children in custodial care), or that have three or more employees at one time engaged in the storage, preparation or service of food must have at least one certified manager present at all times when these activities are taking place. All other establishments (general populations or two or less employees) must have a certified manager or managers responsible for all periods of operation but the manager or managers need not be present at all times.