Course Description
Guardians of the Plate: Ensuring Food Safety in the Modern World
The news frequently carries alarming reports of foodborne illnesses. Outbreaks involving harmful agents like salmonella, E. coli, and the infamous mad cow disease create shockwaves across nations, posing serious threats to public health. For instance, during 2008-09, an unprecedented outbreak linked to salmonella in peanut butter led to the most extensive food recall in U.S. history. Over 600 individuals fell ill, nine tragically lost their lives, and the very essence of a comforting peanut butter and jelly sandwich came under scrutiny. These incidents not only highlight the vulnerabilities of our food supply system but also underscore the profound impact of lapses in food safety protocols.
Why This Course Is Essential
In our interconnected world, food safety isn't a mere industry requirement; it's a global responsibility. This comprehensive online course ventures beyond headlines, offering an in-depth exploration into the science, best practices, and nuances of food safety:
-
Mechanisms of Contamination: Gain insights into how harmful bacteria transfer, proliferate, and lead to illnesses.
-
Best Practices in Prevention: Learn the gold standards in prevention, from hand washing techniques to pest management.
-
Kitchen Dynamics: If you're aspiring to establish or manage a restaurant, this course provides invaluable guidance on kitchen design and planning.
Detailed Course Breakdown:
-
Introduction: Set the stage for your deep dive into food safety, understanding its significance in today's world.
-
Overview of Foodborne Illnesses: Grasp the expanse and implications of foodborne diseases, from bacterial contamination to other pathogens.
-
Hand Washing: Discover the science and techniques behind effective hand hygiene – a foundational aspect of food safety.
-
Food Handling: Understand the intricacies of managing raw and cooked food items, ensuring they remain uncontaminated.
-
Temperature Control: Dive into the importance of maintaining optimal temperatures, and the tools used to monitor them.
-
Storing and Serving: Learn strategies to safely store ingredients and serve food, minimizing chances of spoilage or contamination.
-
Dishwashing: A critical component in the kitchen, explore the best practices in cleaning dishes and utensils.
-
Cleaning Practices (Facility Sanitation): Uncover the methods to maintain pristine kitchen environments, from daily cleaning schedules to deep cleaning routines.
-
Employee Health/Cleanliness/Hygiene: Learn the importance of staff health and hygiene, and protocols to ensure they don’t become sources of contamination.
-
Handling It All: Dishes, Knife Skills, and the Food Supply: An overarching lesson that combines various elements of the kitchen, from handling dishes to mastering knife skills.
-
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Planning: Delve into this systematic preventive approach to food safety, understanding its crucial checkpoints.
-
Behind the Scenes: Setup and Relationships With the Health Department: Recognize the importance of compliance and building constructive relationships with health oversight agencies.
-
Conclusion: Reflect on your journey, understanding the responsibilities and opportunities in ensuring food safety.
Real-Life Case Studies:
-
Analyze past outbreaks, understand their causes, and discuss measures to prevent recurrence.
-
Engage in practical exercises, such as crafting an effective hand washing protocol for a busy restaurant or devising a temperature monitoring schedule.
Who Should Enroll?
-
Culinary Professionals: Whether you're a chef, kitchen manager, or restaurateur, this course will sharpen your food safety skills.
-
Food Enthusiasts and Home Cooks: Enhance your understanding of food safety, ensuring the wellbeing of your loved ones.
-
Career Changers: If you're considering a switch to the food industry, this course offers a robust introduction to its safety aspects.
In conclusion, the importance of food safety transcends industries and borders. With the ever-present challenges of global supply chains, evolving pathogens, and heightened consumer awareness, there's an imperative need for professionals who not only understand but also champion food safety. Enroll now and position yourself at the forefront of this vital discipline, safeguarding communities one plate at a time.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs
Learning Outcomes
- Describe foodborne illnesses.
- Summarize the importance of hand washing.
- Describe proper food handling techniques.
- Summarize temperature control for varying food types.
- Describe proper techniques for storing and serving.
- Summarize proper techniques for dishwashing.
- Describe cleaning practices (facility sanitation).
- Summarize employee health/cleanliness/hygiene.
- Define hazard analysis and critical control point planning.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Assessment Guide
Assessment | Points |
---|---|
Lesson 1 Assignment | 2 points |
Lesson 1 : Introduction | 10 points |
Lesson 2 Assignment | 5 points |
Lesson 2 : Overview of Foodborne Illnesses | 10 points |
Lesson 3 : Hand washing | 9 points |
Lesson 4 Assignment | 5 points |
Lesson 4 : Food Handling | 10 points |
Lesson 5 : Temperature Control | 9 points |
Lesson 6 : Storing and serving | 10 points |
Lesson 7 : Dishwashing | 10 points |
Lesson 8 : Cleaning practices (Facility sanitation) | 10 points |
Lesson 9 Assignment | 2 points |
Lesson 9 : Employee health/cleanliness/hygiene | 10 points |
Lesson 10 Assignment | 1 points |
Lesson 10 : Handling it all: Dishes, Knife Skills and the Food Supply | 9 points |
Lesson 11 : Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Planning | 10 points |
Lesson 12 : Behind the scenes: Setup and relationships with the Health Department | 10 points |
Lesson 13 : Conclusion | 10 points |
The Final Exam | 65 points |