Alternatives to ServSafe

A 2023 New York Times article exposed the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) use of worker money to fund their national lobbying campaigns.

In 2007, the NRA bought ServSafe, a food handler training program, and turned it into an indirect fundraising arm of the association, funneling training revenue into lobbying funds.

There is a better way! Look below to find options other than ServSafe to train your staff on Safe Food Handling.

Coming Soon:
Just.Safe.Food.

Just.Safe.Food. is a worker co-operative that will offer food safety trainings suitable for the California food handlers’ card requirement for food service workers  once our program has achieved ANSI accreditation, but unlike ServSafe, the co-operative will support advocacy for improved wages and working conditions in the food service sector.

We are currently working on receiving ANSI accreditation.

What is the
National Restaurant Association?

The National Restaurant Association is a corporate lobbying powerhouse that represents the interests of large restaurant chains like Darden (parent company of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Yard House), YUM! Brands (parent of Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut), McDonald’s, Starbucks, and more. Their main lobbying efforts are preventing minimum wage increases, earned sick time, and other anti-worker worker initiatives.

For more information, check out these articles.

What does the
National Restaurant Association advocate for?

• Keeping the federal tipped minimum wage at $2.13/hr

• Reducing sick leave

• Weakening Unions

• Keeping the federal tipped minimum wage at $2.13/hr • Reducing sick leave • Weakening Unions

• Ending unemployment benefits so people come back to work

• Weakening Child Labor Laws

• Ending unemployment benefits so people come back to work • Weakening Child Labor Laws

• Reducing employer liability for labor law violations

• Raising the blood alcohol content limit for drivers

• Reducing employer liability for labor law violations • Raising the blood alcohol content limit for drivers

By using programs other than ServSafe, you are preventing the National Restaurant Association from advancing their anti-worker agenda. Thanks for doing your part.

ANSI Accredited Alternative Food Handler Programs

Last Updated October 10, 2023. Information from the ANAB Directory of Accredited California Food Handler Certificate Program