Contact information for food, health and nutrition
Food and nutrition
For foodservice managers and employees:
Certification renewal
Renew your food manager certification through our online course.
Check the registration and access section if you have a technical question about the online course, including how to print a certificate of completion.
Contact exfdsafe@umn.edu with questions.
Initial certification
Visit the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to find answers to all Certified Food Manager (CFM) questions including where and when classes are offered, if your certification has expired, and how to process your paperwork.
Cottage food vendors
Have a question about making and selling food from your home? View our cottage food course and resources.
Contact exfdsafe@umn.edu with questions.
Home preservers and home cooks
You can find many answers on this website:
- Instructions for canning, freezing, drying, pickling, or other preserving topics.
- Storing food, dates on food products, etc.
- Sanitation and illness
AnswerLine
Get reliable, research-based answers to your everyday questions. The AnswerLine staff have been answering consumers questions for more than 30 years. Contact AnswerLine to get information about:
- Safely cooking, canning and freezing foods.
- Cleaning stains and mildew from homes and clothes.
- Dealing with floods and other household issues.
1-800-854-1678 (Minnesota)
1-800-262-3804 (Iowa)
1-888-393-6336 (South Dakota)
Calls are answered Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.– noon and 1–4 p.m. You must call from a Minnesota, Iowa or South Dakota area code to access the AnswerLine phone service.
You can also send an email.
AnswerLine is brought to you by University of Minnesota Extension and Iowa State University Extension, with support from USDA, the state of Minnesota, county governments and grants.
Other questions
Direct other questions to exfdsafe@umn.edu.
Farmers markets and Power of Produce (PoP) Club:
Susan Draves, SNAP-Ed regional health and wellness coordinator
sdraves@umn.edu
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed):
Find a SNAP-Ed program leader or health and wellness coordinator near you.
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP):
Sarah Jergenson, state coordinator, EFNEP
jerge053@umn.edu
Cooking Matters Minnesota®:
CeAnn Klug, associate program director
cdklug@umn.edu
Systems and food networks:
Project breakFAST toolkit:
Mary Schroeder, Extension educator
hedin007@umn.edu
School food service training and resources:
Kelly Kunkel, Extension educator
kunke003@umn.edu
Child care providers:
Mary Schroeder, Extension educator
hedin007@umn.edu
Physical and mental health
Health insurance, health care directives, long-term care decisions and protecting the health of older adults:
Mary Jo Katras, program leader, family resiliency
mkatras@umn.edu
Stress, change and mental health:
Cari Michaels, Extension educator
cmichael@umn.edu