Food Safety

Food Safety Training: For Pantries

Food Safety Training (FST) for Food Pantries (No Food Prepared On Site)

Food safety certification must be renewed within 3 months of expiration to remain in compliance. All staff and volunteers who regularly handle food must be certified, including drivers and distribution workers. If you have multiple sites, all distributions must be overseen by those with food safety certification. We offer this training and quiz in a free video format here.  

https://form.jotform.com/222164568852159

Once you complete this 28-minute training, you’ll then need to take a short 20-question quiz. Once the multiple choice quiz is submitted (click “Submit” at the bottom), you will see a confirmation message pop-up to let you know that you’ve successfully submitted the quiz. You should automatically receive an email with your certificate that is good for 3 years. You may enter multiple names in one certificate for group trainings. Please share this training with all staff and volunteers who handle food. A printable PDF of the training slides is available as a supplement in the resources below.  

Food Safety Training: For Meal Sites

Food Safety Training (FST) for Meal Sites and Other Programs Using MANNA Food to Prepare Meals 

Food safety certification must be renewed within 3 months of expiration to remain in compliance per our Annual Agreement. At least 1 primary person overseeing all meal preparation and service must have the Food Protection Manager level food safety certification. All other food handlers may take the MANNA Food Safety Training for Food Pantries. All staff and volunteers who regularly handle food in any way must have food safety training and certification. You have a few options to complete this, all of which are good for five years: 

  • Contact your County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division to see when they offer the Food Protection Manager course and exam. Many health departments offer this to restaurants and have someone on staff certified to administer the training and exam. 
  • Contact your County NC Cooperative Extension office to see if NC Safe Plates for Food Managers is offered in your region, which must include the exam and certificate. Make sure this is the same certification offered for restaurants to be in state compliance.  
  • Here is a list of additional resources for Food Protection Manager training  

Once you’ve completed the course and received your certificate, please email a copy to the Agency Relations Manager for your zone and to ar@mannafoodbank.org.