Civil Rights Training
The primary program supervisor is required to take the online Civil Rights training annually.
All other staff/volunteers with direct client contact should review and sign the Civil Rights Training Handout for Non-supervisory Workers annually. Please keep these records available onsite as the USDA has the authority to conduct unannounced audits.
Please download, print and utilize the Civil Rights Compliance Checklist.
Food Safety Trainings & Resources
Trainings
Foodlink requires valid food safety training certification for all members. In order to distribute food, a member must be in compliance at a minimum of the level required for their food program type (see below). The individual(s) meeting the requirement should be in a supervisory role and present for the receiving, storage, and/or distribution of the food at their food program. This individual(s) are responsible for ensuring that other food program workers are appropriately trained on food safety.
Foodlink offers free online Basic Food Safety training. Foodlink encourages members to go beyond the minimum requirements listed below and have multiple food program workers trained in Basic Food Safety. Basic Food Safety certification is valid for five years, but members may be asked to refresh their training more often if food safety citations are found during monitoring visits.
For Food Pantries & Nonprofit Partners
- Basic Food Safety: minimum one person
- New staff or volunteers in charge of food program are encouraged to take Basic Food Safety training
- Basic Food Safety certification is valid for 5 years.
- An 80% or higher score is required to pass the quizzes and receive a certificate.
Basic Food Safety Online Training Resources
Food Pantries
Do not use this training if you prepare meals at your site.
Prepared Meal Sites
The content covered in the food pantry training is covered within this training.
Meal sites that are open to the public: See below for further training requirements.
Food Recalls Training
Members are responsible for following recall notifications in order to be aware if product received at your food program may be subject to a recall.
Please click the button below to view a video, then take the short quiz to receive a certificate of completion.
For Meal Programs Open to the Public
Level 1 (L1) Food Manager
- Minimum one person
- Starting January 1, 2025, this is required for all Emergency Meal Programs in Foodlink’s service area.
- L1 certification is valid for 5 years.
Level 2 (L2) Food Handler
- Minimum one person — Monroe and Orleans counties only.
- In addition to the above L1 requirement, for sites operating out of a certified kitchen, these county departments of health require at least one individual certified at the L2 (Food Handler) level.
- L2 certification is valid for 3 years.
- Note: L1 certification supersedes L2 certification. Therefore, if a food program has two individuals certified at the L1 level, there is no need to receive L2 certification.
Questions regarding food safety training should be directed to our Nutrition Resource Manager.
