Tool launched to avoid food poisoning

Local residents are being urged by the county council to use a simple tool that will help them find out if their kitchen habits are putting them at risk of food poisoning.

Powys County Council’s Environmental Health team are asking residents to use a tool that the Food Standards Agency’s has created called Kitchen Check which is also the theme for Food Safety Week 2013, running until June 16.

A recent poll by the Food Standards Agency found that people in Wales are putting their health at risk when cooking at home, with 80% of those asked admitting to one or more habits that put them at risk of food poisoning. 34% admitted they would eat food that has been dropped on the floor while 18% admitted to not washing their hands properly before preparing food.

This Kitchen Check gets people to look at their own food preparation practices and will give them a score and some tips based on their answers.

Cllr Barry Thomas, Cabinet Member responsible for Environmental Health, said: “By not washing their hands before preparing food at home, or ignoring ‘use by’ dates, people in Powys could be setting themselves and their friends or family up for a bout of really unpleasant illness.

“I would urge our residents to use Kitchen Check to help them think about what they do in their own homes and make it easier for people to be knowledgeable and confident about storing and preparing food.”

For more information on safe eating in the home and to take the Kitchen Check visitwww.food.gov.uk/kitchen-check