News

Alum Helps Students Get Certified

January 25, 2023

A food science and technology alumnus helped his alma mater by putting on ServSafe training events for Cal Poly Pomona students.

Tony Wei (’05, food science and technology) is a second-year graduate student in nutrition and food science who has worked in research and development for Mars Petcare, Panda Express and Jollibee.

He is also a ServSafe certified instructor and proctor. ServSafe is a nationally recognized food safety certification offered by the National Restaurant Association.

To work in the food service industry in California and many states, an employee must have at least a food handlers card issued by the county health department, but those with ServSafe certification can work in most counties nationwide.

Although the Department of Nutrition and Food Science offers ServSafe training, it is through a course for dietetics students.

Wei worked with the department, the Food Science Society club, and the campus chapter of Phi Tau Sigma, the food science and technology honor society, to organize ServSafe workshops for interested students, including nutrition and hospitality management majors.

The alumnus said he wanted to provide students with an economical certification option for students: third-party companies can charge up to $200 for the food manager certification exam.

Wei did not charge for the training sessions or for proctoring the certification exams.

“Food safety is an important element, and my hope is the students will be better prepared for the food industry by attending this training session,” he said.  

More than 80 students signed up for the workshops, which were held on Oct. 7 and Oct. 24. They were followed by certification exam sessions on Oct. 28 and Nov. 18.

There are two levels of ServSafe certification: food handler and manager. The latter certification is critical in California, because the state requires a certified manager on duty every shift.  

Thanks to Wei and the training workshops, 51 students earned their certifications as ServSafe food managers, which is valid for five years, and one was certified as a ServSafe instructor.

“We’re thankful to Tony for helping our students gain the skills and knowledge they need to get into the food safety industry,” said Associate Professor Gabriel Davidov-Pardo, interim department chair. “It is so great to have alumni that give back to Cal Poly Pomona in the way Tony does.”

Photos by Jane Zhang