Food Safety Week has gone from strength to strength in Neath Port Talbot. NPT food safety team set up information stands with useful giveaways such as cooler bags and fridge thermometers at local shopping centres and at Neath Port Talbot Hospital.
Food hygiene messages were conveyed to all the community with many residents testing their knowledge of food safety by entering the food safety quiz, won this year by Vicky Weeks from Port Talbot.
A key area in reducing food poisoning is effective hand washing which helps to remove bacteria or viruses and prevent direct food contamination. It has become clear that a number of children in particular did not know why effective hand washing is necessary.
During the week NPT food safety team also visited primary schools in Neath Port Talbot to help pupils improve their hygiene awareness with a fun ‘hands on’ practical approach by using a UV hand washing unit and a glitter bug cream. The children rub the cream on their hands, wash their hands and then place their hands under the unit which will show the cream as a blue glow (germs!) that remain on their hands.
Over 3,300 children have now participated in the initiative and have taken their newly acquired knowledge into their families and larger communities.
Council Leader Ali Thomas said “It is essential that all our residents take into consideration well practised food hygiene to ensure they keep themselves and their children safe.
“Neath Port Talbot Council Food Safety Week has proved to be an invaluable initiative that has achieved great success. Feedback has shown that the community have found the event to be most useful and informative.”
For further information on Food Safety contact:
Rebecca Davies
Senior Environmental Health Officer NPTCBC
Tel: 01639 685605
