Program Topics

1. Introduction to Certified Food Safety Officer Program:

• Understanding local, state, and national food safety regulations, Legal authority and scope of food safety officers

• The roles and responsibilities of food safety officers

• Professional ethics and accountability

2. Compliance Auditing and Assessment:

• Risk-based inspection planning

• Audit techniques for food establishments and supply chains

• Monitoring, documentation, and reporting compliance status

3. Hazard Analysis and Risk Management:

• Identifying high-risk operations and potential violations

• Risk evaluation and prioritization for enforcement action

• Implementing preventive regulatory controls

4. Enforcement Strategies and Corrective Action:

• Issuing compliance notices, warnings, and penalties

• Follow-up inspections and ensuring corrective measures

• Case management and escalation procedures

5. Foodborne Incident Investigation:

• Investigating outbreaks, contamination, and food safety incidents

• Coordinating recalls and public notifications

• Root cause analysis and reporting to authorities

6. Stakeholder Communication and Reporting:

• Communicating inspection findings to management, regulatory agencies, and the public

• Preparing professional, legally defensible reports

• Conflict resolution and negotiation skills in enforcement

7. Continuous Compliance and Public Health Protection:

• Developing risk mitigation strategies across multiple facilities

• Tracking trends and using data for proactive enforcement

• Supporting long-term public health through regulatory leadership