Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Berkeley County health director seeks mandatory food‑handler cards; commission stalls pending formal rulemaking
Summary
The county health director proposed two‑year food‑handler cards and related fees to reduce foodborne illness; commissioners raised concerns about costs to small businesses and procedural steps. The Board of Health has approved the proposal but the commission took no immediate action and asked staff to pursue the rulemaking and return with a formal 30‑day public comment package.
Cara Harding, director of the Berkeley County–Morgan County Health Board, asked the Berkeley County Commission to approve a requirement for food‑handler cards after her board approved a proposal Jan. 26. Harding said the card would be a short (about 45‑minute) online course designed to ensure every person handling food in an establishment has basic training and cited research suggesting improved inspection results and fewer outbreaks.
Harding described the proposed fees and options included in the packet: a county two‑year card (with processing and administrative splits) and a one‑year statewide card. Harding summarized the proposed structure as county…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
