ServSafe Proves Vital During COVID-19

Published: 2020
By Jennifer Anderson

For over 20 years local restaurants, schools, daycares, stores and the like have relied on MSU Extension to provide food safety education through the ServSafe program. With the ongoing concerns of COVID-19, it’s a training and resource that has proven to be vital to the local community’s health, safety and economic security. Rosebud County Public Health Director Shelly Schnitzmeier describes the importance of the training, “The ServSafe trainings have had a huge impact in our county, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. The individuals that have taken the training have gained knowledge that is imperative in keeping people safe, very beneficial during this outbreak. The education that Public Health is currently doing to minimize the transmission of the disease, hand washing, having good hygiene and staying home when ill are vital lessons that the MSU Extension Agents have been teaching through ServSafe for years. ServSafe is an essential program, especially now that we face our new normal in this county.” A local convenience store manager agrees, “rather than panic, we did the best we could to find the most correct disinfection possible and ways to protect both the customer and the employees. One of the other benefits was having the knowledge of where to go to find answers when we didn't know the answers.” Serving retail food service establishments in Rosebud and Treasure Counties as well as the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, it’s easy to understand how over 300 individuals have completed the training throughout the years. The knowledge and practical skills gained have enabled restaurants to stay open and for all to minimize risks to the general public. ServSafe is just one example of how MSU Extension in Rosebud and Treasure Counties is assisting in ways to keep our communities alive, especially during these trying times.