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Please contact us if you own or operate a restaurant, lounge, bowling center, convenience store, cruise ship, or any establishment that serves alcohol and/or food.
Food Preparation Safety Program
Florida State laws require that all food service employees receive training and certification in food preparation safety when dealing with preparation, serving, displaying, and storage of food served to the public. SERVE and its partner program, 'Employee Food Preparation Safety,' provides required employee training, ensuring your business meets all requirements of the law.
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The Importance of Food Safety Training
Statistics have shown that each year, millions of individuals suffer from illnesses caused by various forms of food poisoning due to improper food preparation and handling. Since symptoms vary, and are often very similar to those caused by the common flu (such as diarrhea, fever, vomiting, or upset stomach), many more food poisoning cases have never been reported!
SERVE's Employee Food Preparation Safety Program has been created to address every aspect of food safety issues and educate employees involved in the food preparation field on the basics of proper food handling and safety.
Is Food Safety Training Mandatory?
Florida law requires that all food service employees receive training and certification in food preparation safety when dealing with preparation, serving, displaying, and storage of food served to the public. Additionally, establishments which serve food, must have at least one Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM) and if that establishment employs four or more employees who engage in receiving, storing, preparing or serving food, they must have a CPFM on duty at all times. All new hires have 60 days to be in compliance and the certification is good for three years. SERVE's food safety training program will help to insure proper compliance with these state mandates.
What Does the Program Entail?
The majority of food-borne illness can be avoided if food is appropriately handled, and proper oral hygiene and cleaning/sanitization techniques are followed. SERVE's Employee Food Preparation Safety Program deals with many issues, including proper personal hygiene, preventing cross-contamination, how to receive and store foods, proper cooking and holding temperatures, and food safety manager certification, to name a few. Other important areas which employees will be educated include: how food is contaminated and illnesses which are commonly transmitted, hazardous conditions to avoid, proper washing/drying of utensils, and sanitization techniques.
While there are many challenges business owners in the industry face in preventing food-borne illnesses, with the proper education and training, you will find that once you begin practicing the proper techniques, it will become an easy ritual you will follow daily, in both your professional B and personal lives.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What businesses should implement food safety training?
Any restaurant or food establishment that is inspected by the Department of
Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) or the Department of Agriculture
should implement the training. As of January 1, 2002, both departments are recognizing
this program and have begun to check for verification of training during inspections.
Is SERVE's food safety training cost-effective?
Whether your business is large or small, SERVE's food safety training program
is the most economical way to deliver critical training and information to your
staff. The program is growing in leaps and bounds, and we have fine-tuned it
to be both affordable and convenient. Plus, training your staff in proper food-handling/service
is extremely important in order to protect the liability of your business and
the safety of your guests. NOTE: As an added bonus, employee food safety training
can be done at your Tri-annual Responsible (Alcohol) Vendor meeting - killing
two birds with one stone!
What languages are available?
Our training materials are available in English, Spanish, and French.
NOTE: Our materials can be translated and provided in any language that you may require.
SERVE is an organization dedicated to providing educational and training solutions that serve the needs of the entire restaurant and hospitality industry. In our 20 years of growth, we have since become an instrumental -- and vital -- resource for training in the areas of alcohol service and food safety training.
Endorsements
S.E.R.V.E. Program Inc. has been endorsed, certified, approved, and encouraged by senators, congressmen, law enforcement officials, state Supreme Courts, bar associations, and departments of alcohol and beverages.
State Supreme Courts / Bar Associations
- Alabama State Bar Association - Keith Norman, Director of Programs
- Colorado Supreme Court, Board of Continuing Legal & Judicial Education
- Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competence, Supreme Court of South Carolina - Harold L. Miller, Director
- Commission on Continuing Legal Education, Supreme Court of Ohio - Diana Lahm, Secretary
- Florida Bar Association - John F. Harkness, Jr.
- Georgia State Bar Association, Commission on Continuing Lawyer Competency
- Indiana Supreme Court, Commission for Continuing Legal Education
- Iowa Supreme Court, Commission on Continuing Legal Education
- Kansas Accreditation, Continuing Legal Education Commission
- Kentucky Bar Association - Jan Clark, Director, CLE
- Louisiana State Bar Association - Kitty Hymel, Mandatory CLE Department
- Minnesota Supreme Court, Board of Continuing Legal Education
- Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education
- Missouri State Bar Association
- Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education
- North Dakota State Bar Association - Commission for Continuing Legal Education
- Oklahoma Bar Association - Beverly S. Petry, MCLE Commission
- Oregon State Bar Association - Continuing Legal Education
- Professional Programs, Supreme Court of Kansas - Christopher Thomas, Director
- Utah Accreditation, Continuing Legal Education Activity
- Vermont Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board
- Virginia State Bar, Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board
- Washington Accreditation, Continuing Legal Education Activity
- West Virginia State Bar, MCLE Commission
- Wyoming Accreditation, Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board
Government offices / Officials
- William T. Atkins, Director, State of Illinois Dept. of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
- Ralph Dunn, United States Senator
- William Lehman, United States Congressman
- Louisiana Department of Revenue (S.E.R.V.E. approved), Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control
- Gwen Margolis, United States Senator
- Maryland (S.E.R.V.E.: Approved Alcohol Awareness Training Program)
- Ron J. Vlasaty, Administrator, Division of Regulatory & Support Services,
- State of Illinois Dept. of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
- Richard P. Wille, Sheriff, Palm Beach County, Florida
Businesses
The following businesses endorse S.E.R.V.E. and offer discounts to S.E.R.V.E. members- American Express Tax and Business Svcs., Inc.
- Air Processing Services
- ATM Sales & Service's Credit Card Center
- Southern Bear
- Bar Maid Corporation
- Broward Nelson Fountain Service
- Pinnacle Hospitality Systems
- Ecolab, Inc.
- Standard Coffee Service Company
- Atlantic Properties, International, Inc.
- Stellino Construction Corp.
- Automated Merchant Services
- Certified Dairy and Egg
- Gelato Fino Desserts
- Eschenbach/Fortessa
- Tropics Frozen Cocktails, Inc.
- Atlantic Coast Restaurant Equipment & Supply
- Airways Cleaning & Fireproofing Co.
- Swiss Chalet
- First Aid Select
- Dining Designs of America, Inc.
- Anderson & Murphy Insurance
- Emmaculate Reflections Cleaning Service
- Pre-Paid Legal Service
- MUZAK - Melody, Inc.
- Wolf Paper and Plastics, Inc.
- COMP U.S.
- Terminix Pest Control
- Graphic Services International, Inc.
- Promotions Depot, Inc.
- Platinum Produce
- Siegel Gas Corp.
- Today's Restaurant News
- Arctic Seal and Gasket
- The Strickland Companies, Inc.
- Restaurant Review
- Northstar Seafood, Inc.
- ADT Security Systems
- Sifa-Sinthesi Designer Stores
- Eagle Wing Sings, Inc.
- Pleasure Travel
- General Vending Services
- Florida Transport 82
- Southern Wine & Spirits
Services
SERVE Program Inc. not only reduces your company's exposure to criminal beverage violations and civil litigation, but protects your establishment, staff, and customers while increasing your profits. We have a continuously-expanding list of services which we offer our clients, some of which include:
Responsible Vendor/Server Training Programs: We provide both on-site and corresponding training and testing of employees, including information on I.D. checking, habitual alcoholics, illegal drug activity, and other information as specified in your state's alcohol beverage statutes. Additionally, we provide continuing education and testing of all employees within 30 days, and management within 15 days, of their hire date. SERVE is an approved Responsible Vendor Training Provider.
Comprehensive Training Packag: We provide an extensive training package which includes:
- Certificates of Completion in Alcohol Beverage Responsible Vendor Training
- Approved manuals and testing for employee food safety law
- State required signage regarding serving underage patrons and illegal drugs, as well as direction for proper placement of signs
- State Responsible Vendor sign
- I.D. checking guidelines and procedures
- SERVE Policies and Procedures Manuals
- SERVE training tests for employees, as required by state laws
- Employee Approval Cards, Policy Acknowledgment Forms, and Questionnaires
- National Driver's License I.D. Booklet
- Meeting information, reminders, and updates
- Updates of state laws and legislation
Licensing: SERVE Program, Inc. handles the entire application process on both the local and state level, for your business to achieve and maintain alcohol beverage certification and licensing. We will ensure that you satisfy all requirements of your state's alcohol beverage laws relating to patrons, as well as qualify the alcohol beverage license as a Responsible Vendor.
Government Compliance: We ensure notification to the Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco that your establishment is participating in a Alcohol Beverage Educational Training Program.
Insurance Discounts: Insurance underwriters recognize SERVE's superior legal credentials and comprehensive educational training. As a result, companies are offering as much as 20% insurance premium reduction for participation in the program.
Business Security/Safety Training: It is imperative that both employees and customers have a safe environment to work and enjoy your establishment. We provide comprehensive security training for employees addressing issues of proper and adequate safety measures that must be taken in order to properly protect customers, staff, and your establishment.
Food Safety Training: Florida state laws require that all food service employees receive training and certification in food safety. SERVE provides training dealing with preparation, serving, displaying, and storage of food served to the public. NOTE: This training meets Florida requirements and is available for all food establishments nationally.
National Food Managers Certification: SERVE provides national Food Safety Manager training, testing, and certification as required for managers in the food service sector.
Manager Certification: SERVE Program offers a unique service to its clients. We can design a program according to your schedule, coming to your location to perform the required testing and training. The program can be fine-tuned for either an individual or a group session. If on-site testing is inconvenient, contact us for dates and times to attend classes off-site as well.
Inspections: SERVE provides random alcoholic beverage law inspections to detect violations and prevent them from occurring in the future. In addition, we offer monthly supervisor inspections which cover civil premise liability, criminal beverage law, illegal drug trafficking, as well as I.D. checking, and more.
Mystery Shopping: SERVE will arrange to visit your establishment "under cover" to evaluate your operations and employee performance (i.e., proper ID checking, serving, customer relations, etc.).
Records Maintenance: We maintain all paperwork and records as required by law in both the alcohol and food safety training programs.
Meetings and Updates: SERVE provides continuous updates on state beverage laws and pending legislation, as well as required meetings for all servers, I.D. checkers, and managers. We keep you on the cutting edge of all new information regarding illegal drug activity, arrest scenarios, civil liability, and legislation which affects your business.
Workman's Compensation Discount: (optional) SERVE can provide your business with "Drug-Free Workplace" policies and procedures. This can mean a 5% reduction on Workman's Compensation insurance for your establishment's participation. SERVE can arrange for employee drug-testing at a discounted fee through Smith and Klein (a Nida-certified laboratory).
State-of-the-Art Web Site: The SERVE web site provides you with 24-hour access to current events, legislation, articles, state beverage violation information, and data concerning the hospitality industry and our programs.
Responsible Vendor Training
S.E.R.V.E. Program, Inc.
Sensible Education for Responsible Vendors & Employees
Professionals in Excellence
S.E.R.V.E. Program, Inc., is a comprehensive alcohol education training program which has received the highest awards and accolades in the hospitality industry. Our dedicated staff provides extensive legal and civil training in alcohol and food service. S.E.R.V.E.'s programs are developed to meet state and federal requirements.
Award-Winning Programs
As an award-winning company, S.E.R.V.E. has the highest legal credentials in its field. Approved and certified by state bar associations, supreme courts, and Departments of Alcohol and Beverage, S.E.R.V.E. is also endorsed by insurance companies, politicians, and organizations nationwide.
Dedication and Distinction
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