FREEPORT, Ill.---Americans love dining out. Whether we are celebrating a special occasion or simply eating on the go, eating out is very much a part of our lives. With an ever-growing number of individuals eating out, it is more important than ever to ensure consumers have exceptional, high-quality, safe food.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) developed the Food Code to safeguard food. This code provides uniform procedures addressing food safety at retail food establishments. Illinois requires these businesses to have a person-in-charge or manager obtain an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification. Those receiving this certification have specialized training regarding the safe handling, preparation, and storage of food to help prevent foodborne-related illnesses. The certificate is valid for five years from the exam date and must be retaken once a certificate expires.

University of Illinois Extension will offer the Illinois Certified Food Protection Manager course on Tuesday, Nov. 28, from 9 am - 3 pm, and Friday, Dec. 1, from 8:30 am – 3 pm at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau Building, 210 W Spring Street, Freeport, IL. Participants must attend the full two-day training to be eligible to take the exam. This two-day class will include the following topics: food safety and contamination, employee health and hygiene, safe food handling practices, cleaning and sanitizing, and HACCP.

There is a $125 program fee to cover this educational session. The fee includes the purchase of the workbook, educational materials, and examination. To register, call the U of I Extension office at (815) 235-4125 or visit us online at go.illinois.edu/jsw. Preregistration is required.

If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this program, please contact the U of I Extension at (815) 235-4125. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.