(Chicago, IL) A. Reed Hayes, president and chief operating officer of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), announced that the NRAEF will debut ServSafe(R) Employee Food Safety online training for the first time at the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show. The Show will be held May 19-22 at Chicago's McCormick Place.

"Consistent, convenient and cost effective online training is the food safety solution for operators. Online training also offers interactive learning experiences that engage participants and raise learning retention," said Hayes. "The NRAEF's online ServSafe Employee Food Safety Online Training program offers a dynamic environment that enables operators to tailor training to their needs."

Show attendees will be able to view the program online at both the NRAEF booth, #6100 and at the Technology Pavilion, booth #8100. Both are located in the north hall on third floor.

"The ServSafe Employee Food Safety Online training is the first of many ServSafe programs and other NRAEF products that will be available online," said Ellen Moore, FMP, senior vice president of the NRAEF's Learning and Certification Division. "The NRAEF plans to develop a full library of online training courses in the near future. The next two programs available in the e-Learning format will be the ServSafe Manager Certification Training and Bar Code(R) Responsible Beverage Alcohol Service Training."

Other products showcased at the Technology Booth, #8100, include the new ServSafe(R) Manager Certification Training CD-ROM, new ServSafe Employee Level online course, ServSafe Introduction to Food Safety CD-ROM, Workplace SafetyTM CD-ROM, and the interactive

Bar Code(R) online training program. In addition, the ServSafe Steps to Food Safety videos and the award winning Workplace Safety videos will be available for viewing.

The NRAEF's ServSafe program represents the industry's leading line of food safety training and certification materials. More then 1.4 million foodservice professionals have earned the ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification, which is recognized and accepted by more federal, state and local health jurisdictions than any other food safety program.

Celebrating its 82nd year, the Association's annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals in North and South America. The Show will be held May 19-22, 2001, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. Each year, the Show attracts more than 2,000 exhibiting companies, and more than 85,000 attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 100+ countries. For the latest information, please visit the Show Web site at www.restaurant.org/show.

The National Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 844,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of 11.3 million employees. Along with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing industry. For more information, visit our Web site at www.restaurant.org.

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fulfilling the educational mission of the National Restaurant Association. Founded in 1987, the Foundation strengthens and supports the industry by providing high quality educational and awareness programs designed to professionalize the workforce, particularly in the area of food safety.

Kristin Nolt
202-331-5964
National Restaurant Association