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Food safety campaign launched with TRDC
June 9th 2008

Over 50 Three Rivers residents are estimated to suffer with each year, it can usually be avoided. National Food Safety Week (9 -13 June) aims to highlight the importance of using food safety and hygiene to prevent food poisoning, which can cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea and in very extreme cases even paralysis or death.

Simply remember the Food Standards Agency's Four Cs approach when handling food and you can be content that the source of the food poisoning was unlikely to be your kitchen.

Cleaning - work areas should be kept clean and food handlers should wash their hands regularly.
Cooking - food, especially meat, should be cooked properly.
Chilling - chilled foods should be kept cold and hot foods should be cooled as quickly as possible and then chilled.
Cross contamination - raw foods should be kept separate from ready-to-eat foods and surfaces and utensils should be cleaned thoroughly, to avoid cross-contamination.

Further information on safe food handling and Food Safety Week can be found at www.foodstandards.gov.uk.

Maintaining good hygiene in a domestic kitchen is the responsibility of the householders, but what about eating out? All establishments that serve food in Three Rivers are subject to rigorous hygiene inspections by Three Rivers District Council's Environmental Health Inspectors. This includes premises such as pubs, cafes, schools, care homes and businesses.  Each venue is given a rating ranging from Excellent (five stars) to Poor (no stars) and all scores are available for residents to view online.

View the 'Scores on the Doors' results at www.threerivers.gov.uk or call 01923 776611.