Do You Need a Food Handlers Card to Work at Starbucks?

Starbucks is multinational chain of coffeehouses, and among the most recognizable brands.

On average, Starbucks sells 2 million cups of coffee daily, along with breakfast and lunch foods and snacks items.

Because Starbucks’ employees handle coffee and 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 Starbucks, 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 or permit — proves that you have completed a course on basic food safety principles.

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

These topics include:

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

Because foodborne illnesses can make people severely sick — especially populations highly susceptible to them — many states and counties require foodservice employees to take a food handler training course before or within a certain period of employment at a food establishment.

Even if there is no state or local law requiring the training, many food establishments still require it of their employees to protect their customers from foodborne illnesses, and protect their business from lawsuits that can ensue from a foodborne illness outbreak.

Does Starbucks require a food handler card?

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

Starbucks, — like Dutch Bros Coffee and Dunkin’ — meets the definition of a food establishment since the chain prepares and serves coffee and food items.

For this reason, the state or county in which the Starbucks operates may require that its baristas and other employees earn a food handler card.

For example, many states like California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah, among others, require a food handler card to work at a food establishment like Starbucks.

In some instances, there can be no state law requiring food handler training, but counties within the state can require it.

For example, neither Kansas nor Arizona has a law requiring a food handler card, but Leavenworth, Kansas, and several Arizona counties have local laws requiring it.

If the Starbucks at which you applied for or were offered a job is located in a state or county that does not require food handler training, Starbucks might still require it.

Therefore, it’s wise to complete a food handler training course regardless.

How to earn your food handlers card for Starbucks

You can easily earn your food handler card for Starbucks online in under two hours.

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

If you live somewhere that requires a food handler card, make sure the provider through which you enroll is approved or accepted by your state or health department.

Most states and counties only recognize ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited food handler training, like FoodSafePal’s.

After enrolling, you can start the course right away.

You can pause and resume the training as needed so you don’t need to complete the course in one sitting.

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

FoodSafePal’s Food Handler training course consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, and you can retake it for free if you don’t pass the first time.

After you earn your food handler card, it belongs to you and not Starbucks — even if they reimbursed you for the training. Therefore, if you decide to hold two jobs or switch to a different job, you won’t need to earn another food handler card.

Your food handler card will generally be good for three years from the date you earned it, but some places require that you renew it sooner, such as every two years.

The bottom line

A food handlers card proves that you have completed a course on important food safety principles.

You may need a food handlers card to work at Starbucks depending on the location of the coffeehouse since its employees handle and prepare coffee and food items.

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