The Virgin Islands Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health (DEH) will host a series of town hall meetings to discuss the implementation of the DEH Food Handler Training and ServSafe Certified Food Protection Manager certification courses as well as changes within the Division of Environmental Health.
ServSafe is a food and beverage safety training and certificate program administered by the National Restaurant Association. The program is accredited by the Conference for Food Protection. The food handler course is designed for employees who handle and prepare food in restaurants and other food service establishments. It will be a new requirement to obtain a health card. This requirement only applies to food handlers.
The proposed training is part of the Division of Environmental Health’s initiative to “educate and regulate” the local foodservice industry so that the territory may fall into compliance with national food regulatory policies and serve as a model for the Caribbean region through a combination of surveillance, education, enforcement and assessment programs designed to identify, prevent and decrease the environmental conditions that contribute to adverse health effects.
The meetings will take place on the following dates:
St. John – Tuesday, March 17, at the Cleone Creque Legislative Conference Room from 5:30-7:45 p.m.
St. Croix – Friday, March 20, at the Sunny Isle Amphitheater from 6– 8 p.m.
St. Thomas – Friday, April 3, at VI Small Business Development Center from 6-8 p.m.
For more information, contact Kevin Jackson, communication specialist, at 718-1311 ext. 3881 or via email at kevin.jackson@doh.vi.gov
