Food & Beverage Safety

Table of Contents

Food safety training

Food manager training

What training is required of managers in food service establishments?

  • Successful completion of an approved food manager training program (see list below)
  • A person meeting that qualification must be in the facility at all times
  • A person with a valid food manager training certificate will not need a food handler card
  • An exception from this manager training requirement will be given for certain facilities with minimal food preparation. These facilities have been rated as low risk establishments.
  • Questions? Please call the Environmental Health Division

What does this training include?

  • A minimum of six hours of training and successful completion of an exam through an approved training program
  • Only after successfully completing the exam will a person be eligible to meet the training requirement
  • The training will be good for five years from the date the training certificate is issued

Who offers the training?

Do I have to take the national or local exam?

The Environmental Health Division will honor both, but only the national exam will be honored in other jurisdictions.

Food handler training

Food manager/food handler cards fees

Type Amount
For each new or renewed food manager’s certificate $15.00
For each duplicate food manager’s certificate $5.00
For each new or renewed food handler’s certificate $15.00
For each duplicate food handler’s certificate $5.00

Note: Food handler fee does NOT cost $25 and must be maintained by going through our website and NOT a different source.

This site is not affiliated with PHHS: Missouri Food Handlers Class 

Responsible beverage server certification

City ordinance requires anyone who serves or sells alcohol in the City of Columbia to have a server certificate.

Who needs a Server Certificate?

  • Anyone who serves alcohol at a bar or restaurant
  • Anyone who sells alcohol at a cash register
  • For the purposes of the ordinance, a “server” means any person directly engaged in the retail sale, service, delivery or dispensing of alcoholic beverages. This includes taking orders for, accepting payment for, mixing, serving or assisting mixing or serving any alcoholic beverage.

How do I get a Server Certificate?

  • STEP 1: You must complete the free, online State of Missouri Alcohol Responsibility Training (SMART).
  • STEP 2: Bring your proof of completion (usually a certificate) to Public Health and Human Services at 1005 W. Worley St.. We are open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There, you will fill out an application and pay the server certificate fee, which is $5 for each new or renewed certificate. If you get the server certificate at the same time as your food handler permit, the server certificate is free. You will pay only the $15 fee for a food handler permit.

How long is the Server Certificate valid?

Server certificates are good for three years from the date it is issued at Public Health and Human Services.

What does the Server Certificate look like?

Server certifications and food handler permits are both photo ID cards. People who have both food handler permits and server certificates will have one card that lists both certifications.

Why do I need this Server Certificate?

Server training has been demonstrated to decrease underage drinking, binge drinking, and over-service to already intoxicated persons. As a result, communities with required server training see less crime, including property damage, assault and sexual assault, and alcohol-related accidents, including nighttime DWI crashes. Server training can also reduce liability for servers and businesses.

What is the penalty for servers who are not certified?

Servers who are not certified may not serve or sell alcohol. Cases of persons serving or selling alcohol without a certificate will be forwarded for prosecution.

Restaurant inspections

Columbia food code

This ordinance was adopted by the Columbia City Council on April 21, 2014. Columbia’s food code is based upon the State of Missouri Food Code. The State of Missouri Food Code is based upon the FDA 2009 Model Food Code.

The FDA Food Code contains the rules and regulations that food service establishments must follow to be in compliance with food safety laws.  Please view the City of Columbia Food Codeopens PDF file  for the most up-to-date code (2014 Food Code).

Farmers market

Food recalls

Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts from U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

More food recall information from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) section of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Foodborne illness

Food service establishments

Use the operating permit selection tool to learn about the food service establishment operating permit application process or to locate the correct application form.

Food product dating

Backyard poultry

Pet-friendly patio

Food safety videos