Serving a Safe Future

Published: 2021
By Katrin Finch

In partnership with the Cascade City-County Health Department (CCHD), MSU Extension Cascade County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Katrin Finch has offered 12 Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification classes using the ServSafe Food Manager curriculum offered by the National Restaurant Association. This curriculum meets the standards set out by the Food and Drug Administration 2017 Food Code, which are then followed up and enforced by CCHD. Finch collaborated with CCHD to determine a schedule and advertising for classes. During the eight-hour certification class, a variety of topics are covered, including food borne illnesses, cleaning and sanitizing, pest management, development of a management program, Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP), proper cooking, cooling, and reheating temperatures, and risks of food borne illness. At the conclusion of class, a 90-question exam is given. To receive the certification, students must receive a 75% or higher. A total of 111 participants took the class or exam in the year 2021 with a total of 89 participants passing the exam the first time. On average there were 10 participants in each class with an average of 85.85% exam score. Class attendees reported the following at the conclusion of the classes: - I will be working with my staff on cleaning and sanitizing – some of our practices need to be stronger. - I feel confident in leading staff through a basic food safety training. - This information was important for me as a cook, but I will be sharing information with my friends and family about food safety too! - Because of class, I taught my kitchen staff about the importance of food borne illnesses and the impacts they can have on our business. With the newly passed Food Freedom Act, the need for food safety education will continue to grow and programs like ServSafe will become increasingly important. As local food businesses continue to grow, the need for education for smaller food producers, restaurants, and grocery stores too, will increase.