Marilyn May, CFCS, is the Lampasas County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences. She can be reached at MMay@ag.tamu.edu or P.O. Box 231, Lampasas, TX 76550; phone 556-8271, ext. 140. Almost everyone has had what they thought was the "stomach bug" at some time in their life. In 2009, one out of every four Americans will become sick from eating contaminated food and blame it on the stomach bug or something that is "going around."

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that during the coming year, 5,000 people in the country will die after eating contaminated food.

Almost half of every food dollar is spent away from home. Every person expects the food they eat in restaurants to be safe. To address this issue, Texas law requires that each food establishment permitted by the Texas Department of State Health Services must have at least one food manager on staff who is certified in food safety.

Texas AgriLife Extension Service is offering a food manager certification training course to help area food establishments meet the requirement.

The program, "Food Safety: It's Our Business," will be offered for $110 on Feb. 9 and 10 in Lampasas. The cost includes training, course book, course book on CD, other course materials, and the state food handler certification exam.

Pre-registration is required and must be postmarked by Jan. 23. Pre-registration materials can be picked up at the Lampasas or Burnet County offices of Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

The Lampasas office is at 409 S. Pecan Street, and the Burnet office is at 1701 E. Polk St., Suite 12.

Food handler certificates currently being issued will be valid for five years.

The program is designed to provide invaluable education regarding the safe handling of food and to prepare food service handlers to pass the certification examination.

Additional benefits of training and improved food safety include:

• Increased customer satisfaction.

• Improved relationships with health officials. • Prevention of bad publicity and lawsuits due to foodborne illness.

DSHS Food Safety Certification Expiration Regulations

Requirements for Food Safety Certification renewal vary according to date of original certification.

Certificates issued before May 6, 2004, expire after five years. Food handlers with certificates issued before this date must pass the new DSHS Certified Food Manager examination.

Due to changes in Texas food establishment regulations since May 2004, participation in a Food Manager Certification Course, such as "Food Safety: It's Our Business," may help food handlers with expiring certification cards pass the new test.

Certificates issued between May 6, 2004 and April 24, 2008 are good for a two-year period, and may be renewed up to two additional times before the certified individual is required to take the certification exam again.

Requests for renewal should be sent no later than 60 days before the printed expiration date on the card.

It is the responsibility of the manager or employee to renew certificates. No reminder letters are sent by DSHS.

Renewal forms are available from Texas AgriLife Extension Service or online at http://foodsafety.tamu. edu/pdf/posters/replace-renew-certificateform. pdf