Witney News - Council prepares for Food Safety Week

Council prepares for Food Safety Week

West Oxfordshire District Council is teaming up with community shops in West Oxfordshire to spread the message about food safety.

National Food Safety Week runs from June 11th to 17th and the Council's Food Safety officers will be out and about in the District highlighting the importance of good food hygiene.

Between April 2006 and March 2007, there were 231 confirmed cases of food poisoning in the District and the team is keen to raise awareness about the risk. They will concentrate on promoting the '4 Cs':

Cleanliness - keeping the kitchen, equipment and work surfaces clean
Cooking - making sure food is properly cooked before eaten
Chilling - keeping perishable foods cold until cooked or eaten
Cross-contamination - not letting harmful germs spread around the kitchen.

The Food Safety team is working with Finstock Village Shop, Ascott Village Shop, Leafield Community Store, Tackley Village Shop and Chadlington Quality Foods to hand out food safety information, including balloons and badges for children during the awareness week.

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member with responsibility for food hygiene, said: "The Council works throughout the year to promote food safety and hygiene, and we are extremely pleased to have the support of community shops to help get this message across to the residents of West Oxfordshire. With the barbecue and alfresco dining season upon us, it is especially important that food hygiene is at the forefront of everyone's minds."

Anyone wanting more information about the Food Safety team's work and food hygiene can visit the Council's website, www.westoxon.gov.uk/foodsafety