West Lancashire Council food experts give advice on listeria

Jun 18 2009 by Michael Byrne, Ormskirk Advertiser

ELDERLY people in the borough are being reminded of the importance of food hygiene during National Food Safety Week which runs until June 21.

People aged 60 and over are invited to find out about food safety at a special event today (June 18) from 10am to 11.30am at the Wellbeing Centre, Moorgate, Ormskirk, next to Age Concern Lancashire.

Experts from West Lancashire Borough Council’s Food Safety Team will staff a display and answer questions on food safety matters.

Food hygiene advice for the over 60s has been chosen as the campaign theme for National Food Safety Week 2009 because of a recent sharp rise in cases of listeria among this age group. Listeria is the name given to a group of bacteria, which can cause illness when contaminated food is eaten.

Listeria is found naturally in the environment, and also in sheep, cattle and silage. It has also been found in unpasteurised milk products, including soft cheeses, cooked sliced meat and pate.

The key food safety messages are:– Don’t use food past its ‘use by date’; follow the storage instructions on food labels; make sure your fridge is operating at the correct temperature, between OC and 5C); wash salads, fruit and vegetables before eating.