Shawnee State Offers Food Safety Certification Training

August 10, 2012

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 76 million cases of foodborne illness occur each year in the United States as a result of the mishandling of food.

The manner in which people handle and prepare food is a major reason why foodborne illness occurs. Research has shown that food workers often lack safe food-handling knowledge, specifically related to temperature control, hygiene and sanitization.

Employees need to know food safety and the critical importance of its role. ServSafe gives them the knowledge and tools to do just that. Some of the concepts employees will understand when they complete ServSafe training include sanitation, the flow of food through the operation, and sanitary facilities and pest management.

The comprehensive training includes:

• How to prevent foodborne illness and the keys to food safety. See where contamination starts, the process for good personal hygiene, and how all employees can be safe food handlers.
• How to prevent cross-contamination and how to utilize time and temperature control effectively. Get the inside story on safe receiving, food storage, preparation and serving, and cooling and reheating. Learn how taking active control of critical foodborne illness risk factors makes all the difference for a safe operation.
• Cover all aspects of cleaning and sanitation in a practical, applicable manner. Learn about pest management and how to keep pests out of the operation.

You can feel safe knowing that our program is recognized by more jurisdictions than any other food safety program including the Ohio and Kentucky Departments of Health. That is because ServSafe is the highest standard in training and certification. It is a mindset and the means to ensure your operation does the right thing – protecting your customers and your business.

ServSafe leads the way in providing the restaurant and foodservice industry with an up-to-date, comprehensive food safety training and certification program.

Several training sessions are offered including:

1. Certification training, a two-day program with textbook, instruction, exam and lunch for $289 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20 and Friday, Sept. 21.
2. A refresher and exam with textbook for $199 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21.
3. A refresher and exam without textbook (bring your own) for $119 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21.
4. Exam only for $89 at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21.

Registration may be made in person at University Outreach Services; by mail, 940 Second Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662; by fax, (740) 351-3598; or phone (740) 351-3274 (credit card only).

University Outreach Services is located in the basement of Massie Hall, just inside the south entrance and parking is available. To register, or if you have questions, call University Outreach Services at (740) 351-3274 or (866) 672-8778 (toll free).

For more information, call or e-mail Debra Schwamberger at dschwamberge@shawnee.edu.