The focus of the campaign is to reinforce existing food safety advice about storage, handling and cooking of food, including raw vegetables. The campaign is in response to recent E. coli outbreaks in Britain and abroad including one linked to soil on raw vegetables and another caused by contaminated sprouted seeds.
Michael Jackson, head of food safety and operations at the FSA in Northern Ireland, said: “Our previous campaigns have highlighted the risks associated with preparing raw meat and poultry. However, recent E. coli outbreaks linked with vegetables and sprouted seeds have shown that handling fresh produce, particularly if it carries particles of soil, can spread harmful bacteria.
“We commissioned research following these outbreaks that looked at people’s attitudes towards food safety when preparing vegetables. This showed us that the perceived risk of food poisoning from vegetables was low, whereas most people questioned were more cautious when handling meat. There was a limited awareness that cross-contamination from vegetables to other foods was a food safety risk. The aim of this campaign is to help raise awareness of this risk.”
The campaign will be heard on radio stations and seen in newspapers across Northern Ireland for two weeks from 5 December, and a further two weeks in the new year from 2 January 2012.
Source: FSA
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024