Thursday, November 14, 2013

Improving Competence With Servsafe Training

By Bonnie Contreras


Servsafe training is administered by the National Restaurant Association as a certification program for stake holders and practitioners in the industry. The program has been accredited by Conference For Food Protection and ANSI as a requirement for persons operating in the industry. The certificate awarded is a requirement for any person joining the management of any restaurant or food joint.

With a dynamic market that experiences changes on regular basis, content for the course is also bound to change. It is improved to make food handling and operation environment safer. Towards this end, the syllabus covers food borne illnesses and dangerous pathogens contained in food. Poisoning that result from biological contamination is covered in depth. This is alongside shellfish poisoning and problems associated with food allergens.

Within the syllabus are health complications and illnesses that stem from poor food handling practices. Participants are introduced to standard practices and steps that prevent food contamination. The measures taken cover the process of acquisition and purchase and also include the right delivery status. An observant person can detect unhealthy conditions and whether the food items delivered is fit for human consumption. Such status judgment informs handling and storage.

Food preparation forms part of the highlights made by the tutors. The environment, necessary substances and the condition are discussed. Unhygienic surfaces contaminate any food items and will expose the foods to either going bad or reducing their quality. Colors change depending exposure. Because of the nature of some vegetables or animal products, they might react with the preparation surface.

Food quality is affected by the equipment used during preparation as well as materials used in handling. This implies that one must look for chopping boards made of the right material to prevent introducing foreign bodies to food. Food holding especially after preparation is a delicate affair. The food changes in nutritional value depending on the food group. Improper holding is likely to lead to loss of vital nutrients.

The likelihood of introducing pathogens in cooked foods during serving is high if proper measures are not taken. There are guidelines on what should be done to achieve high quality hygiene standards. Sanitation guidelines for facility and equipment are discussed. Participants are introduced to revolutionary food safety management systems. Other inclusions into the curriculum are pest control and general food safety.

Employee training forms part of the process of enhancing quality service in the food industry. The module discusses their qualifications and necessary traits to ensure that they are ready to be effective in the industry. Their health status and frequency of screening is also covered. Motivation and incentives that are likely to make them better in customer service are highlighted.

Servsafe training is delivered through comprehensive and professionally prepared material that can either be studied online or in face to face sessions. The materials are simple and easy to follow. It is a course that is recognized at federal, state and local level. It also covers the needs of beverage and alcohol handlers.




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