Professional Food Manager Certification
Training Course offered
LA GRANGE — 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 train ing course. This program will be offered for $125 on Monday, Oct. 6 and 7, from 9 a. m. to 5 p.m. at the Randolph Recreational Center, 653 East Pearl St. in La Grange.
Cost includes training, materials, and a national food manag- er 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, Sept. 19.
This program is designed not only to prepare foodservice managers to pass the certifica tion 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 cus- tomers 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 lawsuits 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 Professional Food Manager Certification Training course of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, called “Food Safety: It’s Our Business,” call the Fayette County Extension Office at 979- 968-5831.
