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| For Immediate Release |
Contact: Andy Deloney |
| September 22, 2005 |
517/377-3931 |
Upcoming Michigan Restaurant Show to Feature Multilingual Food Safety and Sanitation Certification
LANSING, MI – There are plenty of reasons for restaurant owners, managers and professionals to attend the upcoming 2005 Michigan Restaurant Show. For operators and managers of foodservice establishments who speak Chinese, Arabic or Spanish, there is one outstanding reason: the opportunity to become certified in food safety with instruction in their primary language.
The 2005 Michigan Restaurant Show will be held on October 18 and 19 at the new Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. The Rock Financial Showplace is located on Grand River Avenue just east of Beck Road and south of Interstate 96.
According to Stacy Gonda, director of education for the Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA), the Michigan Restaurant Show offers a tremendous opportunity for Chinese, Arabic, and Spanish-speaking restaurant personnel. “The increasing diversification of our society does not diminish the Michigan Restaurant Association’s commitment to safe food handling and preparation practices. The Michigan Restaurant Show will give our English-speaking and non-English-speaking restaurant personnel an opportunity to become certified in these practices while learning in their own languages.”
Gonda said that individuals who enroll will be trained in the ServSafe® Food Safety program. ServSafe® is the industry standard for food safety education. The Michigan Department of Agriculture has approved and recognizes ServSafe® certification as meeting all of the Food Code of 2000 requirements, including local health department mandates. Said Gonda: “ServSafe® training empowers restaurateurs and their employees to protect against foodborne illness outbreaks, minimize insurance costs, reduce liability risks, and improve food quality.”
Students in the courses will receive six hours of instruction followed by an exam, learning with an instructor in their own language. Upon successful completion, the students will receive their certification, which satisfies four Michigan counties’ requirements for trained managers.
Space for the courses is limited. The deadline for registration is October 3. Those interested can register or get more information by calling the MRA at (800) 968-9668.
Founded in 1921, the Michigan Restaurant Association represents more than 4,500 Michigan foodservice establishments. The foodservice industry plays an integral role in Michigan’s economy, employing more than 436,000 people and creating more than $11.3 billion in total annual sales. For more information, call (517) 482-5244.
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