Food Safety Week 2011

Food Safety Week is on, running from the 7th to the 13th November with this years theme being vulnerable populations. Vulnerable population groups include those over 60, those suffering from a medical condition or undergoing medical treatment, young children and pregnant women.

Tips for ensuring foods are safe for these groups include:-

• Choosing foods free of Listeria particularly for pregnant women, their unborn child and the elderly
• Ensure everything is clean- hands, utensils, plates, cooking equipment, preparation areas, baby bottles and teats ( if used), training cups etc
• Ensure foods are well cooked especially meat, poultry and eggs. Follow the manufacturers instructions when using packaged foods, preparing infant formula, toddler milks and baby foods
• Chill perishable foods in the fridge at 5 degrees C or below
• Make sure raw meat and poultry are kept separate from foods not needing recooking such as fruits, desserts, salads. Store raw meat ,poultry, fish at bottom of fridge

Further information is available from the Food Safety Information Council