The Riverside Brookfield High School culinary department has recently introduced the distribution of Food Handler Certificates to students in Foods I classes. These certificates are granted through an organization called ServSafe, a food-related safety training program.
The Food Handler Certificate is beneficial to students in various ways. The teachers and students involved with this program have reflected positively on their experiences throughout the certification process.
“The Food Handler is a certificate that you earn through training that allows employers to see that you know how to operate safely in a kitchen, and that you can serve food to customers without hazards to them or yourself,” said senior Alec Oltrogge.
To receive the certificate, students must complete various assignments and take a test to assess their understanding of the lessons.
“You had to go through a lot of instructional videos and take notes,” Oltrogge said. “Afterwards, you had to take a long multiple choice quiz, and once you finished that, you could get your certificate.”
Students and teachers expressed that the test was not very difficult, and a good grade is easily achievable if students remain focused and pay attention in class.
“You watch videos, do modules, and take notes about food safety and the process and procedures,” said senior Heaven Perry. “After that, you take a test, and it’s not that hard. When you pay attention to the videos, they’re actually really helpful.”
Though a passing grade is attainable in this class, if a student is struggling on the test, they are granted another opportunity to improve their score. Foods I teacher Mia Pitzaferro gives her students a second chance on the quiz and assists them with any questions they may have.
“They have about three days total to work on the modules until they are ready for their exam,” Pitzaferro said. “If they don’t pass it, I still give them an opportunity to study a little bit more, and then they try again. Some of the material can be a little difficult if I don’t go through the modules with them. The students are doing a really good job following the modules, taking notes, and understanding it.”
The Food Handler Certification is necessary if students want to take any of the higher level culinary courses that RB has to offer. It is also mandatory for work in food-related jobs.
“We figured it would be really smart to have our Culinary I kids start with their food handlers, that way they learn the skills that they need to go into the commercial lab and also to be more marketable to get a job,” Pitzaferro said.
Along with the importance this certification holds at RB, it is also crucial for students who choose to work with food or at restaurants outside of school. Whether it is their ultimate career choice, or a job they want to pursue short term, the Food Handler Certificate is helpful to have.
“Once they have the certificates, if they were to apply to a job, they would be able to show their employer that they are able to follow proper safety and sanitation protocols so they don’t have to do that once they are hired,” Pitzaferro said. “It does make them more marketable right away, as opposed to someone who comes in without it.”
Foods I is a course that prepares students for careers in the culinary industry. It also teaches them proper safety precautions that can be helpful in their everyday lives, especially leading up to college and adulthood.
“I took Foods I because I wanted to learn how to cook for myself in college, and we learned a lot of basic stuff, like how to cook the basic food groups,” Oltrogge said.
Students and teachers enjoy the class and the experience that comes with taking it. Foods I is recommended for kids with open slots on their schedules.
“It is really fun,” Perry said. “I think everyone should take Foods I. I think it should be mandatory. It’s really helpful, and it’s not that hard to do.”
