The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's (NRAEF) International Food Safety Council^® announces its 13th annual National Food Safety Education Month^SM. This year’s theme, “Viruses: They’re in Your Hands,” is designed to give restaurant operators and foodservice professionals tools to reinforce the critical role they play in preventing the spread of foodborne illnesses due to viruses. The annual campaign is held each September and focuses on the importance of food safety education for the restaurant and foodservice industry, while also raising the dining public’s awareness of the industry’s commitment to food safety.

“Employee practices such as hand washing are critical in preventing the spread of norovirus and hepatitis A - the two most common viruses - and our National Food Safety Education Month campaign highlights the link between training and the promotion of public health and safety,” said NRAEF President and Chief Operating Officer Mary Adolf. “We have developed a series of posters and activities for this year’s campaign, designed to give restaurant operators and foodservice professionals effective tools that illustrate the critical role they play in preventing the spread of foodborne illnesses due to viruses. We also offer a set of easy-to-execute activities, many of which can be completed in less than 10 minutes.”

The NRAEF creates free weekly training activities, posters and promotional pieces that reinforce this year’s theme and encourages industry professionals to use them to take part in this national awareness campaign.  The free weekly training activities and free posters are designed to emphasize the importance of hand washing and illness reporting and can be used to supplement in-unit food safety training.

The National Food Safety Education Month logo and free training materials are now available for download at www.nraef.org/nfsem.  Spanish language materials will be available Sept 1.  Information about prior years’ activities is also available at www.nraef.org/nfsem.

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.

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.

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