When it comes to food preparation, proper hygiene is of the utmost importance. Washing hands and tools may seem like simple measures, but if we didn’t practice these steps of basic hygiene, diseases would spread at a much greater rate than they do currently.

We didn’t always know about the importance of protecting ourselves from bacteria. In some places, people still don’t take personal hygiene seriously when it comes to food. To standardize the practices involving food preparation, the government has implemented health codes and inspections ensuring that the public is safe from consuming harmful bacteria along with their food.

These regulations state that professional food handlers must be trained in food hygiene techniques and must always implement then when on the job. Many food handlers are required to attend classes and achieve a certification before being allowed to prepare food.

In some cases, each employee requires certification, while in others, the restaurant as a whole must be certified. The rules regarding certification vary according to the geographical location.

If you operate a food service of some type, it’s a good idea to call the local health board and inquire about the certifications that you need to operate. These calls don’t provoke the health board into inspecting your place of business, so don’t worry that you’re making them suspicious.

It’s more likely that they’ll appreciate that you’re trying to do the right thing, and will be more cooperative with you as time goes on.

Food hygiene certifications require that you take at least one class, or more likely, a series of classes. These classes are usually available at a local college, online, or at a night school.

When trying to decide which classes to take, examine the topics that they cover to be sure that they match up with your needs. The rules regarding certifications can vary, even from one county to another in some cases. Make sure you understand what’s required of you so there’s no confusion later on.