NACS Releases New Food Safety Manual for Members

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) is now offering its members an in-store food safety manual that will help integrate food safety into any existing training program. The new "ServSafe Food Handler Guide" is a co-branded training booklet developed by NACS CAFÉ (The Center for Achieving Foodservice Excellence) and the National Restaurant Association's education group.

The guide, available only to NACS members at a cost of $5 each, uses the same principles and instructional design as the ServSafe Manager Certification Program, and covers the following key areas: food safety, personal hygiene, cross-contamination and allergens, time and temperature, and cleaning and sanitation.

It also contains real-world workplace scenarios to help users apply classroom lessons to the work environment. The content is based on the 2009 supplement to the 2005 Food and Drug Administration Food Code update and recent employee job task analysis.

"The ServSafe Food Handler Guide is a cost-effective solution for use by all convenience retailers that provide foodservice offerings," explained Dr. Nancy Caldarola, education director for NACS CAFÉ. "While not a replacement for the mandated ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification that is required in many jurisdictions across the country and in Canada, this program allows all employees at a company to work together to raise the bar on food safety and show our customers that we care about the service and safety of the foods and beverages we sell."

Although not required in most states and regulatory jurisdictions, the ServSafe Food Handler Guide meets the requirements of California's food-handler training law.