School Food Safety and Disaster Plans

Food Safety Guidance and Assistance

To provide the safest environment for serving food in school cafeterias, food service personnel must be trained in best practices for handling food. Here are some tools and resources available to help you develop your food safety protocol, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

Food Safety Guidance in Schools

• Institute of Child Nutrition Food Safety Resources

Federal Resources and Guidance

• Enhancing the School Food Safety Program FAQ (SP 37-2013) [ ]
• Food-Safe Schools
• Food Safety in Schools Training (formerly Serving It Safe) (Institute of Child Nutrition)
• Food Safety Inspections in Service-Only Sites Participating in the School Meals Programs (SP 45-2011)[ ]
• Food Safety Orientation for New Employees Video Series
  • Workbook and Guide for the Food Safety Orientation for New Employees [ 558.6 kB ]
• Partnership for Food Safety Education — Fight Bac
• USDA Food Safety Education Resources

Food Safety for Fresh Produce

• Best Practices for Handling Fresh Produce in Schools [ 542.3 kB ]
• Handling Fresh Produce in Classrooms: Guidance for School Nutrition Staff [ 236.5 kB ]
• Handling Fresh Produce on Salad Bars [ 252.4 kB ]
• Storing Fresh Produce Chart [ 238.4 kB ]

General Food Safety Information

• Latest News on Foodborne Illness and Disease (USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service)

Emergency Readiness and Disaster Assistance

Local school foodservice operations are often at the center of emergency response activities, working with local, state and federal agencies to bring relief to those in need. It's more important than ever that school foodservice operators create and implement proactive and comprehensive emergency preparedness policies and procedures. Such steps will help school nutrition professionals work with community leaders to develop effective response plans and strategies designed to protect the health and safety of its residents.

Emergency preparedness encompasses a wide range of potential incidents, including natural disasters, intentional acts of violence, food recalls and food defense. Prompt and effective response in the face of such emergencies will require a thorough plan. The following resource list was developed to help school nutrition professionals locate materials that address a variety of potential emergencies. These can be used in the development of policies and procedures unique to an individual district or school.

• Biosecurity Checklist for School Foodservice Programs (USDA)
• Creating Your School Food Defense Plan (USDA Food and Nutrition Service) 
• Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide for School Nutrition Professionals[ ] (NSFMI)
• Food Defense and Emergency Response Resources (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
• Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency
• Opportunities for Schools to Assist in Disasters Through the Federal Child Nutrition Programs[ ] (FRAC)
• Reopening Your School Kitchen After a Flood [ 2.7 MB ]