MenuTrinfo, a leader in helping restaurants and food service operators offer healthy and safe dining options, has announced a new partnership with Personal Touch Food Service, Inc., a provider of food service and management for businesses, health care and educational institutions. MenuTrinfo will provide its trademarked AllerTrain training and certification program to Personal Touch food service managers and staff.

The classes provide certification and training in the areas of gluten-free menus, specialty menu development, nutritional counseling, and policy development. AllerTrain is approved and recognized for credit by the American Culinary Federation and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Successful completion of AllerTrain earns participants a three-year certification and ensures that food being served at Personal Touch client locations is handled using safe products and procedures.

"We have seen an increased prevalence of food allergies over the years, especially in our school populations and knew we needed to properly train our managers and our staff," said Jennifer Zerby, food service manager for Personal Touch Food Service Inc. "AllerTrain gave them understanding of the severity of food allergies/intolerance, and confidence that they can prevent an allergic reaction from happening."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 4% to 6% of U.S. children under age 18 have food allergies. Additional studies show that 16% to 18% of children with food allergies have had allergic reactions to accidental ingestion of food allergens while in school.

"By taking the step to train their employees, who are employed in more than 80 public and private school locations, Personal Touch is protecting the lives and health of the children they serve," said Betsy Craig, founder and CEO of MenuTrinfo. "Students and parents can feel confident that their child is safe eating from the school cafeteria."

AllerTrain teaches food handling procedures to ensure the safe delivery of meals to diners with food allergies, intolerances, or sensitivities, including gluten intolerance and celiac disease. We are honored to have been chosen by Personal Touch Food Service to exclusively provide allergy training and certification to their food service managers and staff.

AllerTrain teachers will train and educate Personal Touch unit managers, who will in turn train their chefs and line staffs. In addition to the training and certification, MenuTrinfoAllerCards will be displayed at all of the Personal Touch Food Service institutions.

About Personal Touch Food Service, Inc.

Headquartered in Buffalo with 600 employees, Personal Touch Food Service, Inc. is a recognized leader in food service and management, serving businesses and corporate offices, public and private schools, colleges and residential/healthcare institutions. For more information, call 716-883-1998

About MenuTrinfo

MenuTrinfo® is dedicated to helping foodservice operators protect the lives and health of their customers by meeting or exceeding new nutritional labeling regulations as required by law and by partnering with restaurants to provide safe products and procedures that meet a wide range of dietary restrictions. MenuTrinfo’s complete suite of services include menu analysis, AllerChef™ and AllerTrain™ certification and training in the areas of gluten-free menus, specialty menu development, nutritional counseling, and policy development. Its nutritional analysis is the only full-service solution for nutritional labeling that is insured and based on an FDA-approved process. MenuTrinfo® clients cover the spectrum of food service, from large universities to restaurants and catering operations. For more information go to www.menutrinfo.com or call (888) 767-MENU (6368).