Beat the Bug in Food Safety Week
07 June 2010
66% of consumers have not heard of Northern Ireland’s most common form of food poisoning as a new survey highlights the importance of good food hygiene in the kitchen
New research for this year’s Food Safety Week reveals that two thirds of consumers here have not heard of Campylobacter, Northern Ireland’s most common form of food poisoning bacteria. Recent data reveals that 986 cases of Campylobacter were reported in Northern Ireland in 2009. This figure is considerably higher than Salmonella, the more commonly known form of food poisoning, from which there were 159 reported cases in the same year.
safefood and the Environmental Health Section of Carrickfergus Borough Council are reminding consumers of the importance of good food hygiene in the home to reduce the risks of food poisoning.
The purpose of this year’s Food Safety Week, which takes place across Northern Ireland from 7th to 13th June, is to get consumers involved in preventing food poisoning by Campylobacter. The public are being urged to prevent the spread of germs from raw foods to ready-to-eat foods through cross-contamination and to cook poultry and meat thoroughly.To prevent cross contamination always wash utensils such as knives and chopping boards thoroughly after use with raw meat or chicken and always wash hands in warm, soapy water after handling raw meat or chicken. The good news is that people can take simple steps at home to reduce the risk of food poisoning by proper cooking and avoiding cross-contamination. If food is prepared, handled, and cooked properly, avoiding cross-contamination between raw food and cooked food, then these germs will not have a chance to spread and cause harm.
Related Links
For further information please contact:
Owen Fulton
Telephone: 028 93358000
E-Mail: owen.fulton@carrickfergus.org
