Food Protection Mangement Classes

Food Service Managers are encouraged to attend a food safety training program Wednesday, July 31 and Thursday, August 1 beginning at 8 am at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Wise County office, located at 206 S. State Street in Decatur.  This program includes training, materials, and the state approved food manager certification examination (ServeSafe).  Call 940/627-3341 for registration information.

The “Food Safety: It’s Our Business” course is designed to not only prepare foodservice managers to pass the certification examination; it will provide valuable education regarding the safe handling of food.  Almost 50 cents of every dollar Americans spend on food is spent on meals prepared away from home.  Therefore, careful attention to food safety will help keep customers safe and satisfied.

Foodborne illnesses are estimated to cost thousands of dollars in lost wages, insurance, and medical bills.  With these statistics, knowledge of how to prevent foodborne illness is essential.  The benefits of improved food safety include:

·                     Increased customer satisfaction

·                     Improved relationships with health officials

·                     Prevention of bad publicity and law suits due to foodborne illness

By attending the course, foodservice managers will learn about:

·                     identifying potentially hazardous foods and common errors in food handling

·                     preventing contamination and cross-contamination of food

·                     teaching and encouraging personal hygiene for employees

·                     complying with government regulations

·                     maintaining clean utensils, equipment and surroundings

·                     controlling pests

Foodborne illnesses can be prevented by following simple food safety practices.  For more information about the Food Manager Certification Training course of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service call the Extension office at 940/627-3411.  Registration is limited to the first 20 paid participants.