NHS promotes National Food Safety Week in Wakefield

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In support of National Food Safety Week, an annual event that highlights the importance of food safety and the basic principles of food hygiene, South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust have set up information stands at Fieldhead on Ouchthorpe Lane in Wakefield.

The theme of this year’s UK-wide campaign is “GermWatch” and aims to raise awareness of good food hygiene practice by educating people on the importance of the 4 C’s (Cleaning, Cooking, Chilling and avoiding Cross-contamination).

The stands on display at Fieldhead show information on the four C’s and include tips on safe food practice. In addition, quizzes focusing on good food hygiene practice are being given out for staff to complete. Janet Marsh, Food Hygiene Trainer and Ali Perring, Senior Infection Prevention Practitioner gave some hand washing demonstrations enabling those who visited the stands to learn about effective hand washing.

Many people fail to wash and dry their hands properly despite the fact that: • If you wear a ring there could be as many germs under it as there are people in Europe. Millions of germs can also hide under watches and bracelets. • A single 1mm hair follicle can harbour 50,000 germs. • 1,000 times as many germs spread from damp hands than dry hands.

Ali Perring said, "There is a special focus this year on the issue of cross contamination. We are encouraging people to take note of basic guidelines when dealing with food including making sure their hands are washed thoroughly, and they do not use the same chopping board for raw and ready to eat foods. High standards of food hygiene practice are essential for the well being of people who use our services, the peace of mind of families, the confidence of our organisation and the motivation of staff."

For further information please logon to www.foodlink.org.uk

NHS promotes National Food Safety Week in Wakefield

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