12 June 2009, 09/119
National Food Safety Week
Elderly people in the borough are being
reminded of the importance of food hygiene during National Food
Safety week, from 15 to 21 June.
People aged 60 and over are invited to find
out about food safety at a special event on Thursday 18 June from
10am to 11.30am at the Wellbeing Centre, Moorgate, Ormskirk (next
to Age Concern Lancashire). Experts from West Lancashire Borough
Council’s Food Safety Team will staff a display and answer
questions on food safety matters.
Food hygiene advice for the over 60s has been
chosen as the campaign theme for National Food Safety Week 2009
because of a recent sharp rise in cases of Listeria among this age
group. Listeria is the name given to a group of bacteria, which can
cause illness when contaminated food is eaten.
Cllr Andrew Fowler, Portfolio Holder for
Community Services and Health, said: “People aged 60 and over are
particularly vulnerable to this type of illness and so we are keen
to spread the food safety message to everyone in this age group. I
encourage them to go along to the special event at the Wellbeing
centre to pick up advice and food safety tips. We will also be
giving away free fridge thermometers and advice leaflets on action
that people can take themselves to keep food safe and reduce the
risk of listeriosis.
“In addition, we are offering to give talks,
or stage displays, for other organisations working with older
people.”
Listeria is found naturally in the
environment, and also in sheep, cattle and silage. It has
also been found in unpasteurised milk products, including soft
cheeses such as camembert and brie, cooked sliced meat and
pate.
The illness caused by Listeria is called
listeriosis. It causes a range of symptoms from mild flu-like
illness to blood poisoning and inflammation of the lining of the
brain. More than 95% of people who get food poisoning from listeria
end up in hospital.
The key food safety messages are:
- Don’t use food past its ‘use by
date’
- Follow the storage instructions on food
labels
- Make sure your fridge is operating at
the correct temperature (Between OC and 5C)
- Wash salads, fruit and vegetables
before eating
For further information about listeria visit
www.eatwell.gov.uk/listeria.
Advice on general food hygiene can also be found at www.eatwell.gov.uk/germwatch.
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