IDDBA Food Safety Deadline Looms

The application deadline for the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association Food Safety Certification Reimbursement Program for training completed between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 is Feb. 1.

The IDDBA reimburses a portion of expenses to IDDBA-member retailer companies that certify dairy, deli and bakery department-level managers and associates in food safety. In FY 2010-11, the program paid out $11,497 to retailers who certified a total of 408 managers and associates. Since the program began in July 2003, retailers have received reimbursements totaling $212,733 for certifying 5,584 managers and associates.

There are six FSCRP application deadlines each year for the previous testing period. More information, including the application deadline dates and corresponding testing periods, and an online or printable application, are available at www.iddba.org/certification.aspx.

Grocery retailers have lauded program. “IDDBA has been one our key partners in helping us to develop a culture of food safety at A&P,” said Pat Brown, A&P director of food safety. “This program allows us to expand our training budget resulting in an increased number of associates becoming food safety professionals. Food safety, sanitation and freshness are good for business. IDDBA’s food safety training reimbursement program helps us achieve these important goals because our customers want it, the law demands it, and it makes good business sense.”

Barb Vogel, manager of POS training and procedures at Schnuck Markets, said: “With the monetary help from the IDDBA reimbursement program, we have been able to expand our food safety certification training to additional levels of our company. … Our company regards excellent food safety practices as one the most important services we can offer our customers.”

Barbara McIntyre, training assistant at Dierbergs Markets, remarked: “Dierbergs has participated in the IDDBA FSCRP program for the last six years. We provide in-house ServSafe instruction, books and tests to our associates, and the reimbursements, now totaling thousands of dollars, have helped defray the cost. …The online registration now makes it even easier to apply.”

Madison, Wis.-based IDDBA is a nonprofit membership organization serving the dairy, deli, bakery, cheese and supermarket foodservice industries.