Witney News - Food Safety information flies off the shelves

Food Safety information flies off the shelves

Leaflets and stickers giving important information about hygiene and how to prevent the risk of food poisoning are being snapped up by shoppers at community stores in West Oxfordshire.

The leaflets have been put in shops by West Oxfordshire District Council's Environmental Health Service as part of national Food Safety Week, which runs until Sunday (June 17th).

Food Safety Officers have teamed up with Ascott Village Shop, Chadlington Quality Foods, Finstock Village Shop, Leafield Village Community Stores and Tackley Village Shop to get the food safety message across.

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Although we're only half way through the week, it's already been a great success with leaflets flying off the shelves at the stores. This is great news as food safety is a very important issue. Food poisoning can strike very quickly and many people do not realise that most cases come from a problem within the home. Last year, there were 231 confirmed cases of food poisoning in the District and we want to reduce that number by increasing awareness of the risk.”

It is the first time the Council has worked with shops to promote the national awareness week. As well as leaflets promoting the '4 Cs' - cleanliness, cooking, chilling and cross-contamination - balloons and pens have been handed out to children.

Deborah Saxby, Supervisor at Leafield Village Community Stores, said: “We've had a lot of interest from people and many have taken away leaflets. I think the message is getting across to young people as well, so it’s been very worthwhile, especially at a time when people are having barbecues and food can be affected by the warm weather.”

For more information about food safety in West Oxfordshire, visit the Council's website, www.westoxon.gov.uk/foodsafety