Janice Spangler

"We need to expose everyone who works in food service to the proper way to handle food," said Janice Spangler, an environmental health specialist for the Mobile County Health Department.
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"It's human nature not to want to be educated in this manner," said Spangler."In past classes, I've seen a few people use it to take an hour nap," said Hammac."The chairs are not that comfortable, but it's dark, and it's easy to nod off," Spangler said.

And at the end of the hour, there's no test to measure how much the participants have actually digested.

"Some of them don't understand a whole lot of English," added Spangler."It would be difficult to develop a test that everyone could pass."

Spangler also says it would require extra staffing it doesn't have to develop, administer and grade a test.

"(What assurances do we have that these people learning these food handling techniques are actually learning something?) Well, it's not an assurance I would take to the bank," Spangler told NBC 15 News.

Instead, Spangler says food handling safety extends beyond the annual class and into the workplace, through pamphlets, brochures, posters, and regular inspections.

"We do as much teaching of food handling while we do the inspections as we do in any class," said Spangler. Mobile's Health Department inspects each of the county's eating establishments once every three month: a chance for inspectors, if needed, to reinforce what's taught in the class.

"We don't rely on the foodhandler class to be the be-all, end-all of food handler safety," said Spangler."You have to teach them when the opportunity arises," Spangler added.

Spangler also says they depend on the restaurants' managers to make sure their employees are properly trained.
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"You have to trust people somewhere," Spangler said.