Experienced and Inexperienced Food Managers Benefit from Food Safety Training

Situation:
There are an estimated 76 million food borne illnesses each year. It is estimated that between 30% and 40% of these illnesses are acquired in restaurant/foodservice locations.

The elderly who are in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are at increased risk for foodborne illnesses because of their weakened immune systems.

Response:
The ISU Nutrition and Health Specialist provided 10 hours of ServSafe training (a nationally recognized food safety certification curriculum of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation).

Impact:
Nine food service managers from nursing homes, assisted living facilities and restaurants participated in training. One restaurant manager was in their first year of practice and the rest of the group had seven or more years of training (over 105 years of experience in the group).

Even though the majority of managers were experience, at the completion of training they identified practices they were going to improve in their facilities. Some of the practices identified were: 1. Labeling and dating of prepared foods in storage, 2. More frequent checking of temperatures on buffet lines, 3. Implementing the use of covered containers with straws for employees in food preparation areas, 4. Maintaining an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) file, 5.Calibrating thermometers daily, 6.Changing food thawing procedures, 7.Doing more to monitor time and temperature, and 8. Implementing the use of color coded boards and utensils to prevent cross contamination.

One participant commented on their evaluation sheet that “Everyone needs to take this class!” All nine participants passed their exam and achieved Certification.

Contact:
Patricia Anderson
Iowa State University Extension, W. Pottawattamie County
ISD-Careers Bldg.
3501 Harry Langdon Blvd.
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Phone 712-366-7070; Fax: 712-366-7024
Email pander@iastate.edu