Food handler training

We offer allergy awareness and basic food safety trainings for food workers. Minneapolis business can request free voucher codes for their staff for the trainings.

About

The Minneapolis Health Department offers free online trainings for food workers.  

Allergen awareness training

The food allergen awareness training is for all food workers. 

The training includes information on:

  • Top food allergens
  • Identifying and preventing cross-contact risks
  • Controlling allergens when preparing dishes
  • How to communicate about allergens
  • Recognizing and knowing what to do if a customer has an allergic reaction

The food allergen training is available in English and Spanish.

Person serving noodles at event

Free event food safety training

Seasonal and short-term vendors can learn about food safety for Minneapolis events. This free training is available in English and Spanish. It takes 30 minutes to complete.

Food safety trainings

The food safety trainings are valuable for: 

  • Kitchen workers 
  • Servers and other front of house staff 
  • Volunteers serving food at events 

You can choose from three trainings:

  • Food Handler Level 1 
  • Food Handler Level 2 
  • Food Safety Essentials at Special Events and Festivals 

The same topics are taught in all three trainings. Food Handler Level 2 is the most in-depth training.  

The trainings and tests are available online anytime.  

We award a food handler certificate and card to every person who successfully completes any training. 

Training topics include:

  • Keeping food safe
  • Temperature danger zone
  • Hot and cold holding
  • Avoiding cross-contamination
  • Cleaning and sanitizing
  • Personal hygiene

Food Handler Level 1

  • Ideal for people:
    • Who need to know basic food safety
    • Who have a visual learning style
    • Have special learning needs
  • Takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete
  • Available in English
  • Divided into five sections, each with a short test. You must answer all the questions correctly to move to the next section. You can take each test an unlimited number of times.  

Food Handler Level 2

  • Ideal for staff who would like a more in-depth training.
  • Takes 60 to 90 minutes to complete
  • Available in these languages:
    • English
    • Spanish
    • Korean
    • Mandarin Chinese
    • Vietnamese
    • Tagalog
    • Serbo-Croatian
    • American Sign Language (ASL)
  • To receive the course certificate, you must pass a 30-question test with at least 21 correct answers. You can take the test twice. 

Food Safety Essentials at Special Events and Festivals 

  • Ideal for staff and volunteers working with food or beverages at farmers markets and events
  • Available in English and Spanish
  • Takes 45 to 60 minutes to complete
  • To receive the course certificate, you need to pass a 20-question test with at least 14 correct answers. You can take the test twice. 

Free voucher codes

Request voucher codes

Minneapolis licensed food businesses and vendors at Minneapolis events and farmers markets can request free voucher codes for their staff. 

Request voucher codes for allergen awareness and food safety trainings

Using a voucher code 

To begin a food handler training:

  1. Visit Food Safety Training for Minneapolis
  2. Turn off your browser's pop-up blocker.
  3. Enter your voucher code in the Redeem Voucher box.
  4. Follow the prompts on your screen.
  5. You can save the training at any time and return to it later.

Setting up your account

To use your voucher code, set up an account. 

When you are asked to enter personal information, you only need to enter your name. Your name will be printed on your certificate of completion.  

You do not need to enter any other personal information. You can put an "x" in the other fields such as birthdate or address. 

Follow the screen prompts to finish setting up your account. 

Food workers outside of Minneapolis

Food workers outside Minneapolis can take food handler training. The cost is $20 per course. We accept the following forms of payment:

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • Prepaid debit cards

Visit Food safety training for Minneapolis 

Certified Food Protection Manager

The food handler trainings are not Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) classes.  

Contact us

Health Department

Phone

612-673-2301

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave S, Room 520
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Office hours
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monday – Friday

 

Minneapolis 311

 
 

Office hours

7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Monday – Friday