Food Safety
The Environmental Health Section of Council is responsible for enforcing the food hygiene legislation with local food premises, further information about key topics can be found below.
If you are considering starting a food business or would like to register a food premises more details can be found here
Ecoli O157 - an invisible threat to your business
E. coli O157 is a particularly dangerous type of bacteria because it can cause serious, untreatable, illness and even death from very low-levels of contamination of ready-to-eat food. Because E. coli O157 survives at freezer, chill and ambient temperatures, measures to control cross-contamination apply to all of these environments.
Although E. coli O157 is the key focus of this guidance, the measures outlined will also help in the control of other food poisoning bacteria, such as campylobacter and salmonella.
The key controls to prevent the cross contamination are: -
- separation of equipment and staff involved in handling raw food from staff that handle ready-to-eat food
- effective cleaning and disinfection
- personal hygiene and handwashing
The main sources of Ecoli O157 bacteria are
- raw meat
- unwashed vegetables
The Food Standards Agency has produced guidance outlining the strict controls businesses should be putting in place to prevent cross contamination, it is available to download at the bottom of the page
Fitness to Work
People who work around open food while suffering from certain infections (mainly from bacteria and viruses) can contaminate the food or surfaces the food may come into contact with.
The Agency has published revised 'Food Handlers: Fitness to Work' guidance to help prevent the spread of infection to other people through food. The guidance aims to help managers and staff to prevent the spread of infection by advising which illnesses and symptoms staff should report and what managers should do in response.
Download a copy of the Fitness to Work at the bottom of this page
Food S
afety Training
The Environmental Health section are pleased to be able to offer local food businesses the opportunity to attend a CIEH Level 2 Training in Food Safety. The training is being run in conjunction with Bisp Training and will give food handlers the chance to obtain an accredited qualification in food hygiene and allow food business owners to meet requirements of food safety regulations.
Related Documents
For further information please contact:
Environmental Health
Telephone: 028 9335 8071
E-Mail: sec2.envhealth@carrickfergus.org
