The National Restaurant Association and the Illinois Restaurant Association have joined together to educate foodservice operators throughout Illinois regarding updated changes to the state’s food safety laws. Through NRA’s ServSafe program, the groups will offer solutions for restaurant operators navigating the recently passed Illinois Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act.

“The legislative landscape of food safety regulation is constantly evolving,” says Cathy McCullough, vice president of Sales and Product Marketing for the National Restaurant Association. “As thousands of restaurant and foodservice managers across Illinois begin to navigate changes to the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act, our comprehensive ServSafe food safety certification program will provide the education and training needed to comply with the law.”

In August of this year, Illinois passed the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act, which makes changes to existing training requirements for manager food safety certifications and food handler training requirements statewide.

Under the law’s new provisions, the Illinois Department of Health will no longer offer the Illinois Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification Exam. Only Conference for Food Protection (CFP) approved exams will be allowed. Additionally, effective July 1, 2014, a food service sanitation manager certification or recertification must be accomplished by completing an approved eight hour training course inclusive of a CFP Exam, replacing the previously required sixteen hour course.

NRA’s ServSafe program, a recognized certification program under Illinois state law, will provide online and on-site training and exam options for foodservice managers. The program is designed to provide flexibility and convenience for students.

More than 5 million foodservice professionals have been certified through the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification Examination, which is accredited by the American Nation