Does a Food Handlers Card Make Sense for Home Chefs?

More and more people are making food at home these days (e.g. most of us have that one friend who is suddenly into sourdough.) This isn’t changing any time soon, either, as seven in 10 consumers say they will keep cooking at home after the pandemic. But there has also been a rise in making food professionally at home.

Whether you’re a caterer, private chef or even a home chef, a food handlers card will ensure that you’re maintaining proper food safety standards in whatever residence you’re using to craft your cuisine. 

Let’s discuss an important law related to this topic, as well as who benefits from a food handlers card and how to get one.

The Texas Cottage Food Law

According to Cottage Food Laws (“A Comprehensive Guide to Homemade Food Business in Texas), the Texas Cottage Food Law “allows individuals to sell certain foods made in home kitchens, without having to get any food manufacturers’ permits or licenses, use a commercial kitchen, or be subject to inspections by the state or local health departments.” Among several other requirements, this law is applicable only to annual gross incomes of $50,000 or less from home-based food production, and only those who sell directly to consumers and deliver it at the point of sale (or at a location the consumer chooses). 

Who Benefits from Food Handler Cards?

To maintain compliance with the Texas Cottage Food Law requirements, it requires knowledge of how to handle food properly. One way to gain this base knowledge is with a food handler certification (aka “food handler card” or “food handler license”). This is especially beneficial for:

• Caterers: Smaller catering businesses and individual caterers who work from a home-based business.
• Private chefs: Personal chefs who want to ensure the safety of their clients and give them peace of mind.
• Home chefs: Active home cooks who want to protect their families and friends. 

How To Get A Food Handler License

Getting an accredited food handlers certification from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is easier than you might think. With a short 1-2 hour online course from American Course Academy, you can learn the principles of food safety, from how food becomes unsafe to preventing cross-contamination and how to clean and sanitize properly.

Does a food handler card make sense for you? If so, enroll in our state-approved food safety course today!