Minister launches food safety initiative

Health Minister Angela Smith has launched a new food safety initiative to help consumers avoid cross contamination of refrigerated food.

Newry and Mourne District Council introduced the initiative, which has been funded by the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland (FSANI), with Safefood, the Food Safety Promotion Board, producing a ‘fridge sticker’.

This sticker illustrates the correct positions of different types of food in a fridge, and acts as a constant reminder to avoid cross contamination of refrigerated food.

Speaking at the event, the Minister said: ”This is a very useful and practical initiative in the fight against food poisoning. The fridge sticker is an innovative way of getting this important message across.

“This ongoing partnership, which has spanned Food Safety Week projects for the last three years, puts the consumer first by giving them clear and helpful information in an appropriate format.”

Angela Smith also presented four local businesses with the Eat Safe Award on behalf of the Council. The Eat Safe Award is organised by FSANI and awarded to restaurants that meet stringent hygiene standards during inspections by Environmental Health Officers across all district Councils.

Praising the scheme, the Minister added: “When Eat Safe was launched, Newry and Mourne was the first council to identify a business that reached the high standards required by the scheme.

"Today, I am delighted to present four further awards on the Council’s behalf. It is very encouraging to see businesses responding to the Eat Safe scheme. It offers consumers a simple method of identifying premises with very good hygiene standards.”

(MB)