Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to Offer Professional Food Manager Certification & Food Handlers Certification Courses
Statistics indicate that foodborne illness continues to be a health issue in the United States. Each year, 1 in 6 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 to have one certified food manager on site.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bosque & Hill Counties, is offering a professional food manager certification training course. This program will be offered for $125 on March 27-28, 2018 at the Hill County Extension Office. Cost includes training, materials, and a national food manager certification examination. The food manager’s certification will be valid for five years. The deadline to register is March 9, 2018.
This program is designed to not only prepare food service 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.
The Bosque County Extension Office will also offer a Food Handlers Certification Course on Monday, March 19, at 9:00am at the Meridian Civic Center. The cost for the course is $20.
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
For more information about the courses or to register, contact County Extension Agent, Kate Whitney, at the Extension Office at 254-435-2331.
