SMF Training & Consulting - Food Safety Consulting

09/10/2026

🎯 One Thing I Wish Every Food Manager Knew

Having a Food Safety Plan with SOP's, daily checklists for verification, pre-shift meetings, and a safe way for in the trench workers to voice concerns, will make your job easier and produce as more consistent product.

09/08/2026

Need a HACCP plan or an update for your Maryland food facility? Get a fast quote with my new HACCP Quote Request Form.
https://marylandfoodhandler.com/haccp/

09/07/2026

👏 Food Safety Win!

Food safety isn't always about violations, inspections, and what someone did wrong.

Sometimes food safety looks like:

✔️ An employee asking a question instead of guessing.

✔️ A manager stopping to check a temperature.

✔️ Someone noticing something isn't right and taking action.

✔️ A team doing the right thing—even when nobody is watching.

Those everyday decisions are what protect your customers.

That's a Food Safety Win. 🏆

09/04/2026

🧠 National Food Safety Month: Myth or Fact?

If food is in a working cooler and smells fine and looks fine, it's safe to serve.

🤔 Myth or Fact?

Leave your answer below in the comments! 👇
Find the answer here: https://marylandfoodhandler.com/?p=1596

09/02/2026

🍽️ National Food Safety Month: What Would You Do?

You start to make chicken salad, you check the cooler for cooked chicken and find the container—but there is no date mark. An employee says that the prep cook made it yesterday.

🤔 What would you do?

A. Assume it was made yesterday
B. Ask the employee when it was prepared
C. Discard it
D. Something else

Drop your answer in the comments! 👇

08/31/2026

Do you scroll past posts with obviously AI generated images?

Restaurant, event planners, vendors are all using them.

Is AI getting to be taboo?

08/24/2026

📅 Don’t wait until the busy holiday season is upon you!

Make sure you have enough certified managers on your team before things get hectic.

As a reminder, while ServSafe® certificates are valid for 5 years, county manager cards are only valid for 3 years.

I have 4 Open Enrollment training dates left for 2026:
https://marylandfoodhandler.com/product-category/instructor-led-courses/

➡️ September 21
➡️ October 19
➡️ November 16
➡️ December 14

Need to train your whole team? I also offer private training with NO minimum number of students.

🔗 Use my Private Training Cost Calculator to see what a private class would cost for your group. https://marylandfoodhandler.com/private-training/

Questions? Send me a message or give me a call!

07/28/2026

Cottage food makers are approaching Maryland retailers more than ever — but accepting those products without the right checks can put your food establishment at risk.

Our newest post explains what retailers must verify before selling cottage food, what products are prohibited, and why QR‑code “direct sales” still leave the retailer liable.

Support local entrepreneurs safely — know the rules before you stock the shelf.
🔗 Read the full post at

Maryland’s cottage food industry continues to grow, and many retailers are excited to support local makers by offering their products on store shelves. It’s a

07/10/2026

Seriously, wash your produce! Not only for parasites but for potentially life altering Listeria monocytogenes!

The gut-churning parasite is found in food items that all have something in common: rough, irregular surfaces, which makes it easier for the parasite to hide and difficult to fully clean. Learn more at the link in our comments ⬇️

04/22/2026

🏪✨ PSA for Essex Business Owners: Is Your Signage Up to Code?

Proper signage does more than promote your business - it helps keep our community safe, organized, and visually welcoming!

In Baltimore County, business signage must follow specific guidelines, including:
✔️ Proper permits before installation
✔️ Size, height, and placement regulations
✔️ Restrictions on temporary and oversized signs
✔️ Safety standards to avoid hazards or obstructions

🚫 Signs that are too large, improperly placed, or installed without approval may result in warnings, fines, or removal.

💡 Staying compliant not only protects your business, it helps maintain a professional and vibrant look throughout our commercial areas.

🔍 Learn more about signage rules and Baltimore County Code:
https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/law/county-code

Let’s work together to keep our business community looking its best! 💼