The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Announces this Year's Theme for National Food Safety Education Month
January 12, 2004
Industry Members to Participate in a Variety of Activities to Celebrate this Educational Campaign
(Chicago, Ill) The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's (NRAEF) International Food Safety Council encourages restaurant and foodservice professionals to start planning now to participate in the tenth annual National Food Safety Education MonthSM this September. This year's theme, "Be aware when you prepare," promotes awareness pertaining to safe food preparation. Created by the NRAEF's International Food Safety Council, this month-long annual campaign focuses on the importance of food safety education for the restaurant and foodservice industry and raises awareness of the industry's commitment to food safety.
"I think this year's theme, 'Be aware when you prepare' will provide the industry with a fun and creative way to showcase the fact that food safety is always top of mind with them," said Mary M. Adolf, president and chief operating officer of the NRAEF. "We all know that a single outbreak of foodborne illness can tarnish an establishment's reputation, and in some cases, drive an operation out of business. It is vital to ensure food safety procedures are done properly and preparation is a major component of this process."
"Food safety education is essential to combat foodborne illness," said John Farquharson, FMP, president of the NRAEF's International Food Safety Council. "By taking part in National Food Safety Education Month, restaurant and foodservice professionals can spread the word about their commitment to serving safe food to their customers, as well as disseminate best practices throughout the industry."
Each year the NRAEF's International Food Safety Council supplies the restaurant and foodservice industry with a Training & Promotion Guide filled with weekly training activities and promotional pieces to help industry professionals take part in this national awareness campaign. The 2004 NFSEM Web pages, located at www.nraef.org/nfsem will contain all the weekly activities, promotional materials and a back-of-the-house poster in a downloadable format this May. The NRAEF is excited to offer The Training & Promotion Guide exclusive to the Internet this year. All participants can obtain their materials easier than ever before b y going to the Web site to receive their materials.
The National Food Safety Education Month logo, which will also be available to download at www.nraef.org/nfsem, can be used by the industry, during the month of September, on fax sheets, menus, promotional materials and other collateral.
The NRAEF's International Food Safety Council presents National Food Safety Education Month every September. The International food Safety Council was created by the NRAEF in 1993 as an awareness initiative to promote the importance of food safety education to the restaurant and foodservice industry.
For more information on how to get involved in National Food Safety Education Month, contact the NRAEF at (312) 715-1010, ext. 712 or visit the NRAEF's Web site at www.nraef.org/nfsem to download this year's artwork and Training and Promotional Guides from the past four years.
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fulfilling the educational mission of the National Restaurant Association. As the nation's largest private sector employer, the restaurant and foodservice industry is the cornerstone of the American economy, of career-and-employment opportunities, and of local communities. Focusing on three key strategies of risk management, recruitment, and retention, the NRAEF is the premier provider of educational resources, materials, and programs, which address attracting, developing and retaining the industry's workforce. Sales from all NRAEF products and services benefit the industry by directly supporting the NRAEF's educational initiatives. For more information on the NRAEF, visit www.nraef.org.
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's International Food Safety Council is an initiative focused on heightening the awareness of the importance of food safety education. Founding Sponsors: American Egg Board, Cattlemen's Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association (CBB/NCBA), ECOLAB, Inc., FoodHandler Inc., Heinz North America, San Jamar, SYSCO Corporation, Tyson Foods, Inc. Campaign Sponsors: Bunzl Distribution, Inc., Cargill, Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Company, Cooper-Atkins Corporation, Farquharson Enterprises, Ltd., Jones Dairy Farm, Monsanto Company, North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers, Orkin Commercial, Produce Marketing Association (PMA), The Procter & Gamble Company, UBF Foodsolutions, U.S. Foodservice.