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The Scoop

Food Safety Information by Fidelity Safety & Training - October 2013

In this issue

▪ Mechanically Tenderized Beef - Dangers and cooking temperatures
▪ Online Training Scams - Beware before you buy
▪ Food Safety Training - Discounts, schedules and special programs
▪ Schools - Job description terminology can cause confusion

Mechanically tenderized beef

caused at least five E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks between 2003 and 2009, causing 174 illnesses, one of them fatal, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first documented outbreak in 2003 was traced to blade-tenderized, marinade-injected frozen filet mignon steaks consumers cooked at home, resulting in 13 illnesses that landed seven people in the hospital. (The process is also called "blading" or "needling." Costco, for instance, labels the mechanically tenderized beef it sells as "blade tenderized.")

The process can drive bacteria like the E. coli O157:H7 from the surface deep into the center of the meat, where they are harder to kill. That can increase the risk of illness for people who eat that beef rare or medium rare.

Even though it’s not mandatory yet to label meat that has been mechanically tenderized, some retailers in the U.S. and Canada are starting to provide labels voluntarily. A proposed labeling laws is currently under review.

Make sure your restaurant staff can answer questions about mechanically tenderized beef and ensure that it is cooked to 155 degrees Fahrenheit or above. For more information go to fda.gov and search for mechanically tenderized beef.

Online food safety training scams

and confusion continues to plague students and their pocket books. We have received dozens of phone calls the past six months from food handlers and food managers about online training offerings that lead to programs and certificates that are not valid in CA or anywhere else. Here is what you need to know before you pay for an online food safety course:

1. You cannot become a Certified Food Safety Manager from an online course! However, you can take an online course to prepare yourself for the exam, but the exam cannot be taken online at your home or business without it being proctored (supervised) by an approved exam administrator/proctor. We are available to proctor a private exams by appointment.
2. You can obtain your CA Food Handler Card online, but it has to be from a company that offers an ANSI Accredited course and exam. Before you pay, make sure the food handler program is ANSI accredited…look for the ANSI logo. There are only ten ANSI approved programs in CA and Fidelity Safety & Training offers one of them. Click here to get your CA Food Handler Card for only $12.95 or click here to view our entire online training library.

“It's so beautifully arranged on the plate - you know someone's fingers have been all over it.”
― Julia Child

Food Safety Training

Our 2014 schedule of Certified Food Safety Manager Classes and Exams will be on our website in about one week. However, we do have the following courses remaining in 2013:

▪ Bakersfield - Oct 29 and Dec 10
▪ Visalia - Nov 20
▪ Santa Maria - Nov 20
▪ San Luis Obispo - Oct 23 and Dec 11
▪ Mammoth Lakes - Nov 12

Use coupon code 1040 when registering here to save $10. Or code 342 and save $119 (send three and get the third free).

Food Safety in the Sierra’s

Certified Food Safety Manager Course and Exam
* Mammoth Lakes – November 12, 2013
* Mariposa – February 3, 2014
* Bishop – May 9, 2014
Click here to register or view the entire schedule.

Our Online Training Courses:

▪ Food Safety Manager (Course Only)
▪ Food Handler Card Course and Exam (CA, FL, and TX)
▪ Food Safety HACCP for Retail Food Establishments
▪ CA Responsible Beverage Service Training
▪ Sexual Harassment (AB1825)(English and Spanish)
▪ Convenience Store Operator Essentials
▪ Tobacco Seller Training
▪ Improving your Tips
▪ Beer 101
▪ Introduction to Wine

Click here to view our online training course library or to register for a course.

Food Safety NEWS for Schools

www.FoodSafetyForSchools.com

Job Descriptions and Training Requirements

Does your district require new or existing food service workers or managers to submit a copy of their food safety training certificate with their application, at time of hire or within a certain amount of time? If so, asking for the correct type of training certificate is important to be consistent with CA law and to prevent employment related misunderstandings and disputes.

Since schools are exempt from the CA Food Handler Card requirement, you probably should not be asking for a food handler card. The law does require schools to have at least one person per kitchen certified as a food safety manager or food protection manager. If a facility loses their certified food manager, the district has 60 days to obtain a replacement certified food manager.

We suggest that the term “food handler” training or certification be removed from all job bulletins, job descriptions and from the district vocabulary. If you require a food safety training credential, it should be Certified Food Safety Manager or Food Protection Manager. Please contact us if you need more information.

School District – Specials

Holiday break is quickly approaching. Do you have 12 or more employees that need to be certified? We can conduct a private course and exam at your district on a non-student day, weekend or in the afternoon. You can also host a course and invite neighboring districts and you will receive a host discount and the more in attendance, the less the group pays. Some districts may also be reimbursed by their insurance group. Contact us today for more information, discounts or for a quote. Use coupon code 2013 to save $20 per person when you register for any of our public courses and exams. Discounts for multiple employees also available.

“I came from a real tough neighborhood. Once a guy pulled a knife on me. I knew he wasn't a professional, the knife had butter on it.”
― Rodney Dangerfield