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Ensure Food Safety
Sponsors must comply with food safety requirements in accordance with Federal, State, and local health and food safety codes. You can find more specific information regarding food safety below.
For specific food safety questions, please reach out to your local public health agency.
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Training Requirements
New directors (hired on or after July 1, 2015) are required to have at least 8 hours of food safety training within 5 years prior to their starting date or completed within 30 calendar days of the employee's start date.
Required Training
Food Safety in Schools
This 8-hour online training provides school nutrition employees with up-to-date information on food safety. This training will meet the food safety training requirement for new directors.
Certified Food Protection Manager Certification
Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations citation 2-102.12 & 2-102.20: At least one employee with authority to direct and control food preparation and service shall be a food protection manager who has been certified by an ACCR program. For more information, contact your local public health agency or visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's retail food resources webpage.
Additional Food Safety Training
Food Safety Training
30-Minute training covering the required food safety elements for a School Food Authority operating a child nutrition program. Ensure you have a Moodle account to access.
Share Table Training
Safety training regarding stations where children may return whole food or beverage items they choose not to eat and these items are available to other children who may want additional servings. Ensure you have a Moodle account to access.
Food Safety Plan
SFA must develop a written food safety program that covers any facility or part of a facility where food is stored, prepared, or served. The food safety plan is based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles.s
Learn how to develop a school food safety program based on the process approach to HACCP principles below.
Food Recalls
Find resources for food recalls below.
Food Safety Inspections
The USDA requires that schools participating in NSLP and SBP:
- Obtain two food safety inspections per year
- Post the most recent inspection report in a visible location
- Provide a copy of the report to members of the public upon request
Sponsors participating in SFSP must receive a minimum of one food safety inspection at each site during operation. Sites that participate in NSLP, SBP and/or CACFP and regularly receive health inspections do not require an additional health inspection for SFSP.
View the USDA Summary of Inspection Requirement
Reducing Food Waste
Sponsors have an important role in reducing food waste and educating the next generation about the importance of food conservation.
Strategies to combat food waste include:
- Implement offer vs. serve at all grade levels.
- Offer vs serve encourages students to take only what they will eat while still allowing them to receive their meal for free.
- Use proper portioning techniques.
- Consider pre-portioning while being mindful of increased packaging costs and trash.
- Implement share tables at each meal time.
- Use smart prepping techniques such as reviewing production records regularly for better forecasting and batch cooking.
- Conduct taste tests to ensure food is appealing to students.
- Schedule recess before lunch to increase appetite.
- Allow students adequate time to sit and eat.
Share Tables
Share tables are stations where children may return whole food or beverage items they choose not to eat and these items are available to other children who may want additional servings.
Get guidance on food items approved for redistribution in the cafeteria setting while maintaining food safety protocols to prevent the risk of a foodborne illness below.
Offer vs Serve
Food Donation
Find guidance on the food donation program in child nutrition programs below.
Learn More About the Food Donation Program
Additional Resources and Required Documentation
Storage Logs
Temperature Resources:
- Dry Storage (PDF)
- Freezer (PDF)
- Hot Holding (PDF)
- Refrigeration (PDF)
- Thermometer Calibration Log
Food Safety Resources
Food Safety Resources in Spanish
(for Spanish resources scroll down to 'recursos en Español')
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