Hosted by the Bergen County Department of Health Services

Co-Hosted by Dr. Hansel F. Asmar, Director and Health Officer

Sponsored by Rider University – Norm Brodsky College of Business

The Bergen County Department of Health Services, under the leadership of Director Dr. Hansel F. Asmar, in partnership with Rider University, invites restaurant owners, food truck operators, commercial kitchen managers, caterers, and aspiring food entrepreneurs to attend an in-depth workshop focused on health certifications and internal quality assurance.

Whether you are launching a new culinary concept, taking over an existing food establishment, or working to upgrade your facility’s compliance standards, this interactive three-hour session will provide practical guidance to help you navigate public health regulations and food safety management with confidence.

Workshop Topics

Participants will learn about:

• Navigating New Jersey Chapter 24 Sanitation Standards and state health codes

• Understanding required food certifications (Certified Food Protection Manager vs. Food Handler training)

• Establishing robust internal quality control and sanitation protocols

• Preparing for local health department inspections and hazard audits

• Developing active managerial control strategies to prevent foodborne illness

• Employee hygiene, temperature monitoring, and cross-contamination prevention

• Managing food allergen awareness and emergency control plans

• Maintaining mandatory documentation, logs, and compliance records

• Common inspection violations and practical ways to avoid them

• Free public health and regulatory resources available to local business owners

Hands-On Certification & Compliance Assistance

Following the instructional presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to receive one-on-one guidance from representatives of the Bergen County Department of Health Services, Dr. Hansel F. Asmar, and public health specialists.

Staff will be available to answer questions, review current operational procedures, assist with health certification applications, and help participants outline internal quality control checklists tailored to their specific food operations.

Free Resources

Each attendee will receive complimentary operational materials, including:

• Bergen County Food Service Compliance Handbook

• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) templates for internal quality control

• Food safety self-inspection checklists and temperature logging sheets

• Guide to State of New Jersey and County health regulations

• Directory for local health officer contacts and regulatory assistance

Printed materials will be available in:

• English

• Spanish

• Mandarin Chinese

• Portuguese

• Russian

Accessibility & Language Services

The Bergen County Department of Health Services is committed to making this event accessible to all members of the community.

The event will include:

• Professional interpreters available upon request

• Assistive listening devices throughout the workshop

• ADA-accessible facilities

• Multilingual staff and public health specialists available to provide assistance

If you require language interpretation or other accommodations, please notify the organizers during registration so arrangements can be made in advance.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is ideal for:

• Restaurant owners and general managers

• Food truck and mobile vendor operators

• Caterers and commercial kitchen users

• School, hospital, and institutional food service directors

• Grocery store, deli, and bakery managers

• Culinary arts students and prospective food entrepreneurs

• Food handling staff seeking professional certification guidance

Cost

This workshop is free and open to the public. Advance registration is encouraged, as seating is limited.

UNPKD is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to entrepreneurship education, economic opportunity, and community development through partnerships with public agencies, educational institutions, and local organizations.