Do You Need a Food Handlers Card to Work at Dutch Bros Coffee?

Dutch Bros Coffee is a national drive-through coffee chain, and one of the most recognizable brands of coffee companies.

The coffee company serves traditional and speciality coffee, smoothies, teas, and energy drinks.

Dutch Bros also sells light food items like muffins and granola bars.

Because Dutch Bros’ employees handle coffee and other drinks as well as food items, you may wonder whether you need a food handler card or certificate to work there.

This article explains whether you need a food handlers card to work at Dutch Bros Coffee, and if so, how you can get one.

What is a food handlers card?

A food handlers card — also known as a food handlers certificate — proves that you have completed a food safety course.

Food handler training courses teach you how to handle food safely so you can identify and prevent food hazards that lead to foodborne illnesses or food poisoning.

They cover topics like:

• good personal hygiene
• handwashing
• time and temperature controls
• cross-contamination and cross-contact prevention
• cleaning and sanitizing procedures

Because foodborne illnesses can make people severely sick — especially those who are highly susceptible to them — many states and counties have laws requiring food workers to earn a food handlers card before or within a certain period of employment at a food establishment.

And even in places where state or local laws don’t require food handler training, many food establishments have a strong food safety culture and still require it of their employees.

Does Dutch Bros Coffee require a food handlers card?

A food establishment refers to any operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or otherwise provides food for human consumption.

Dutch Bros Coffee, like Starbucks and Dunkin’, meets this definition as a food establishment since the coffee chain prepares and serves coffee and other drinks and food items.

As such, the state or county in which the Dutch Bro operates may require that its so-called broistas or other staff members like shift leaders earn a food handlers card.

For example, many states in which Dutch Bros operates, such as Texas, New Mexico, California, Oregon, Utah require a food handlers card.

Even in states that don’t require food handler training, its counties still may.

For example, Arizona has no state law requiring food handler training, but many of its counties do.

If a Dutch Bros is located in an area that does not require food handler training, the location can still require it — and many do — as a condition of employment.

Therefore, it’s wise to complete a food handler training course regardless of state or local laws since earning your food handler card offers many benefits.

How to earn your food handlers card for Dutch Bros Coffee

You can easily earn your food handlers card for Dutch Bros Coffee online in under two hours.

To get started, enroll with a valid online training provider, such as FoodSafePal.

If state or local regulations require a food handler card, make sure the health department accepts or approves the food handler training.

Most places only accept ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited food handler courses, like FoodSafePal’s.

After enrolling, you can start the course right away.

Pay close attention as you progress through the course so you can pass the test at the end and earn your food handlers card.

FoodSafePal’s Food Handler training consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, and you need to answer at least 28 (70%) correctly to pass.

If you don’t pass the first time, you get a free retake.

After earning your food handler card, it belongs to you and not Dutch Bros — even if they payed for you to take the course. This means you can change jobs or work two foodservice jobs concurrently without having to earn a second food handler card.

Your food handler card for Dutch Bros will generally be good for three years from the date you earn it, but some places require that you renew it more frequently.

The bottom line

A food handlers card or certificate proves that you have completed a basic food safety course.

Depending on its location, you may need a food handlers card to work at Dutch Bros Coffee since its employees prepare and serve coffees and other drinks as well as light food items.

To earn your food handlers card for Dutch Bros Coffee, enroll with a valid online training provider like FoodSafePal, complete the course, and pass the test.