DHSS highlights the importance of food protection managers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded a national study that found that restaurants with Certified Food Protection Managers had fewer of most types of food safety violations.

These types of food managers receive special training and are responsible for monitoring and managing all food establishment operations. The CFPM apparently must also be knowledgeable about foodborne illness symptoms, how to minimize risk factors, and how make corrective actions if necessary.
 
Members of Delaware Health and Social Services say that requiring CFPMs is a proactive way to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks in public eating establishments. According to the CDC, each year one in six Americans gets food poisoning likely caused by unsafe food practices either in the home, work, school, health-care facility, food packing facility or restaurant.  
 
DHSS officials note that the Delaware Food Code requires food establishments to have a Person-in-Charge at the time of inspection, who is a CFPM.

So, because inspections in Delaware are unannounced, the food manager is required to be on duty at all times.
 
The Delaware Restaurant Association, in collaboration with the Division of Public Health, has announced they will be conducting a survey to identify the rate of food establishments complying with Certified Food Protection Manager requirements. The findings are to hopefully ensure that DPH and DRA can identify those types of food establishments that require more education and outreach as it pertains to the CFPM requirements.

 
EHS-Net’s study and recommendations can be found here.
 
According to the DRA, challenges faced by restaurants that are trying to reduce the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks include high employee turnover and a labor force comprised of inadequately-trained employees. Employees should have an understanding of the food handling and preparation practices and should follow those practices to mitigate risk factors.

 
For more information about the Delaware Food Code, click here, or call 302-744-4546.
 
For a listing of all the CFPM courses accepted by DPH, click here.

For a list of courses offered by the Delaware Restaurant Association, click here, or for a list of course dates and times or contact the DRA at 866-DRA-2545 to schedule training.