Council provide E.coli training for butchers and meat suppliers
Kendall's Farm Butchers was one of 27 butchers and meat suppliers to attend a training session held by Harrogate Borough Council on how to avoid an outbreak of E.coli 0157.
The training was delivered by the council's Food and Occupational Safety Team.
This addition to their normal training programme follows production of the Food Standards Agency's response to Professor Hugh Pennington's independent inquiry following an outbreak of E.coli 1057 in Wales. The outbreak the largest ever incidence of E. coli 0157 in Wales and the second largest in the UK affected more than 150 people.
Thirty-one people were admitted to hospital and a five-year-old boy died.
His report set out key recommendations for changes to how food businesses are regulated to improve protection for the public.
Councillor Les Ellington, Harrogate Council's Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Rural Affairs, says the council is determined to improve compliance with food hygiene law over the next five years and reduce the number of cases of food poisoning.
He added:
""Everyone involved in the production and distribution of food has a role to play in ensuring food safety from food producers to people in their homes.
When rare outbreaks such as this occur we must learn from them and further strengthen our systems.
"We were very pleased with the number of butchers and meat suppliers attending this session.
As well as discussing the lessons learned from the Pennington report, we were able to offer practical advice on the lay out, construction and design of butcher's shops to minimise the risk of cross contamination.
Not only does this protect the public, it also helps protect their business.
The following businesses were represented at the event:
The National Trust; J.B. Wilkinson; Robinsons Butchers; Gilmoor Foods; True Foods
Kendalls Butchers; Weetons; Colin Robinson Butchers; Beavers Butchers; Fodder Harrogate; J E Audsley; Voakes Pies; Bulmers; Ainsty Farm Shop; Huttons Butchers
Mitchells Butchers;
All delegates have been issued with a certificate to confirm their attendance to display in their premises.
Media contact:
Lynne Mee, Communications and Media Manager, 01423 556022 email
lynne.mee@harrogate.gov.uk or
mobile 07525 987921 or 07884 226409