DECATUR, Ill.— Foodservice businesses in Illinois must have a certified Food Protection Manager on-site during operating hours. Cottage Food Operators also need to be certified. University of Illinois Extension in Macon County is providing the opportunity to obtain this certification by offering the state-mandated Certified Food Protection Manager course and test in May.
The two-day course will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 19 and 21 at the Macon County Extension Office, 3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd. in Decatur. Participants must attend both classes. The certificate exam will take place on May 21. Please bring a valid photo ID to the exam.
The class will be taught by Extension Nutrition & Wellness Educator Caitlin Mellendorf and provides the minimum classroom work to prepare for the national certification exam. Topics include food-borne illnesses, safe food handling, cooking and storage, employee health and hygiene, facility safety and maintenance, cleaning, and sanitization. Foodservice staff need to renew certification every five years.
Please register by April 26 online at go.illinois.edu/DMPevents or by calling (217) 877-6042. A course fee of $120 covers the cost of class materials and the exam. The course is free for K-12 Nutrition Professionals courtesy of the ABCs of School Nutrition grant. Retests will cost $50. Additional classes in DeWitt and Piatt Counties are scheduled for summer and fall.
If a reader or translator is needed, contact the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals at (800) 446-0257 or customer.service@nrfsp.com. Facial coverings and social distancing will be required during the classes.
For more information, please contact chuth2@illinois.edu.
Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please call (217) 877-6042. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.
Source: Caitlin Mellendorf, Nutrition and Wellness Educator, University of Illinois Extension
Writer: Maria Lightner, Marketing & Communications, University of Illinois Extension
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