Fastcasual.com, in partnership with Risk Services Corp., is hosting a free webinar Aug. 4 from 2-3 p.m. intended to inform restaurant operators how they can protect themselves from a foodborne illness outbreak. The webinar will feature speaker Pam Ritz, president of Specialty Risk Management, and will moderated by Valerie Killifer, senior editor of Fastcasual.com.
The webinar, "Restaurant Crisis Management: How to Protect Yourself During a Foodborne Illness Incident," will provide insight into several high-profile foodborne illness outbreaks and the loss of revenue stream that accompanies such an event. It also will delve into the various types of foodborne illnesses and the types of insurance coverages operators have available to protect themselves and their restaurant. (Click here to register.)
According to the co-author of a cleanliness and hand-washing study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, more than half of the employees in the fast food industry fail to wash their hands properly or use gloves when working. According to the National Restaurant Association, there are an estimated 13 million restaurant-industry employees in the United States.
In April 2008, a La Mesa, Calif., Chipotle Mexican Grill location was linked to a hepatitis A outbreak that infected six people. More recently, a Milan, Ill., McDonald's location has been linked to a hepatitis A outbreak that has resulted in a class-action lawsuit filed against the store and its franchise owner.
