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Effect of a manager training program on sanitary conditions in restaurants
M Cotterchio1, J Gunn, T Coffill
1Boston University School of Public Health, MA, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a food manager training and certification program in increasing compliance with restaurant sanitary codes.
Methods:
Using routine sanitary inspection records, the authors compared pre- and post-training inspection scores for 94 restaurants falling into three groups: a "mandatory" group (managers' attendance was mandated for these restaurants); a "voluntary" group (managers attended the training voluntarily); and a control group (no staff attended the training program).
Results:
Restaurants for which managers were mandated to attend a training and certification program demonstrated a significant improvement in inspection scores, an improvement that was sustained over a two-year follow-up period. The mean inspection scores for a control group did not change significantly over time. However, improvements were not noted in all areas of food safety.
Conclusions:
Food manager training and certification programs may be an effective way to improve the sanitary conditions of restaurants and reduce the spread of foodborne illnesses.