Washington County - Food Service Industry Promotes Food Safety

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County Impact Statements - Washington County
Food Service Industry Promotes Food Safety

Participants in the food safety certification program believe they have a head start on training new staff to prepare & serve food safely.

What do fast food businesses and teenagers have in common? You are correct. The fast food restaurant offers the first job to many teenagers looking for employment. The problem that this poses for food service managers is how to adequately train all employees in the business of preparing and serving food safely.

In 1993 a partnership with the local County Extension Office, Arkansas Hospitality Association and the local County Health Department took a pro-active step to facilitate the training of food service managers by bringing the training to them. By bringing a nationally recognized food safety certification program of train-the-trainer to the county area managers saves many hours away from the business and they receive the necessary certification locally.

Joe Fennel, chairman of the Advertising & Promotion Board, says "This is a program that is necessary for our area. We have an obligation to give back to managers some of the money they pay to the A&P Commission by promoting and advertising the training and their participation."

Layne Caudle & John Gilliam, area restaurant owners, said "In our restaurants shellfish is our top selling item. We must make sure our food handlers are keeping proper records, checking the raw product and maintaining proper temperatures. Just one confirmed food-borne illness in our businesses would cause us financial disaster."

Food safety training continues to be an important program. Every year new food code directives are issued and industry members need to be informed.

Impacts

From 1994 to present - 241 food managers have trained 7,233 food handlers in Washington County
82% of food managers focus training on personal hygiene and hand washing.
35% of participants serve meals primarily to senior citizens or youth, the population which is most susceptible to food-borne illness.
100% of the restaurant managers have known of businesses being affected by a food-borne illness out-break.

Washington County
Cooperative Extension Service
2536 North McConnell Avenue
Fayetteville, AR 72704
Phone (479) 444-1755 • Fax (479) 444-1764

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About Us County Impact Statements - Washington County Food Service Industry Promotes Food Safety

About Us
County Impact Statements - Washington County
Food Service Industry Promotes Food Safety