The International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) is offering $2,000 annual reimbursements to their retail members as part of the Food Safety Certification Reimbursement Program (FSCRP). The funds given back to retailers will cover the cost of food safety exams such as:

• Food Safety Manager Certification (National Registry of Food Safety Professionals)
• SafeMark (Food Marketing Institute)
• ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Certification (National Restaurant Association)
• Certified Food Manager (Prometric)

FSCRP is apart of IDDBA’s Safe Food Matters! campaign, a year-long effort that aims to build awareness about food safety practices that should be exemplified at the retail level. One of the biggest goals of Safe Food Matters! is to reduce the likelihood of the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, particularly in retail delis.

“Through FSCRP, IDDBA, along with our retail members, builds imperative food safety awareness and employee skill sets that help further ensure that the safest foods possible are sold in perishable departments,” says Jonathan Whalley, IDDBA education coordinator of FSCRP. “It’s a simple, but rewarding process that each retailer should seriously consider.

He adds that, “A retail member pays $200 for an IDDBA membership and can be reimbursed up to potentially $2,000 annually. When it comes to food safety, it literally pays to be part of IDDBA.”

IDDBA’s retail members are welcome to submit their reimbursement applications any time throughout the year.