The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.
Foodborne diseases are an important public health burden in the United States. Everywhere food is prepared and served, food safety matters. This includes your own home kitchen, church dinners, concession stands, fund-raiser events, fast-food and full service restaurants. Food that is mishandled can cause very serious consequences for all, but especially for at-risk groups like infants and young children, older adults, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.
Southwind Extension District will be offering opportunities for food service managers, workers, volunteers, and individuals to learn more about food safety and how to prevent foodborne illness.
A ServSafe Managers Certification class will be held Tuesday, April 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Fort Scott. Registration fee is $120 per person and includes the ServSafe managers certification exam. Paid registration is due March 19. This class is appropriate for every food service manager, including restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.
A ServSafe Food Handlers class will be held Tuesday, May 7, in Chanute. Registration fee is $15 per person. Paid registration is due April 23. Participants who complete this class will receive a certificate of completion. This 3-hour class is appropriate for anyone who cooks and/or handles food served outside your home kitchen, including restaurants, nursing home and hospital, daycare, school, concession stand, church and community dinner cooks and servers.
A complete listing of ServSafe courses and online registration can be found at: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/servsafe/index.html
For more information or to register for the ServSafe classes, contact Kathy McEwan in K-State Research & Extensions Southwind District office at 620-365-2242 or by email at [email protected].
