Tens of thousands of restaurant workers from hostesses and servers to cooks and bartenders must pass an online food safety and sanitation test by Friday when a new California law takes effect. However, compliance may be difficult as many restaurant operators say they do not know about the new requirement and language may be a major barrier.
The online test, which costs $15, is available only in English, Spanish and Chinese. With so many other languages spoken in restaurants, additional versions in Vietnamese and other languages may be needed. However, they will not be available by Friday’s deadline.
Good sanitation and hygiene are an obsession at restaurants such as the Michelin one-starred Alexander’s Steakhouse in Cupertino. Executive Chef Jeffrey Stout says the new law is a good idea, but its implementation appears to be a problem. Stout says there has been no publicity about the requirement.