AgriLife Extension Service to Offer Food Manager Certification Training Course

Statistics indicate that foodborne illness continues to be a health issue in the United States. Each year, one in six Americans will become sick, 128,000 will become hospitalized, and 3,000 will die due to a foodborne illness.

Under the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) jurisdiction each food establishment is required when open to have one certified food manager on site.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Fayette County, is offering a two-day professional food manager certification training course. This program will be offered for $125 on June 22 and 23, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Fayette County Ag Building, 255 Svoboda Lane, Room 104 in La Grange. Cost includes training, materials, and a national food manager certification examination. The food manager’s certification will be valid anywhere in the state of Texas for five years. The deadline for registering is Friday, June 5.

This program 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, food service 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.

For more information about the course, call the Fayette County Extension Office at (979) 968-5831.