Food Safety Week to protect tiny tummies and sensitive systems

29 September 2004

The Chairman of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Board, the Hon Rob Knowles, announced today that Food Safety Week 2004 would commence on 8 November. It will concentrate on getting food safety messages to those catering for people who are particularly at risk of food poisoning — the very young, the elderly and those who have poor immunity because of illness or medical treatment.

‘Food Safety Week is the time of year that members of the Food Safety Information Council, which include government agencies, consumer groups and professional organisations, get together to raise consumer awareness of food safety. Food Standards Australia New Zealand was a founding member of the Council and we strongly support their work.

‘Previously the Food Safety Information Council has successfully used Food Safety Week to raise consumer awareness of food safety when eating out, catering for large groups safely, good food safety practices such as hand washing and the risk of cross contamination. This year’s Food Safety Week will focus on getting information to those in (or caring for) high risk groups such as small children, the elderly and those with poor immune systems,’ Mr Knowles said.

Mr Knowles also welcomed the appointment of a new Chairman for the Council. Professor Tom McMeekin was appointed Chair at the Council’s recent AGM. He holds a personal Chair of Microbiology at the University of Tasmania and is Co-Director of the Australian Food Safety Centre of Excellence.

‘Professor McMeekin’s appointment will help to co-ordinate the messages going to businesses and consumers about safe food handling practices and ensure that awareness of food safety does not end when the food is purchased,’ he concluded.

The Food Safety Information Council is a not-for-profit group of State and Australian government agencies, the food industry, consumer groups and professional associations. The Council’s job is to educate consumers in safe food handling.

More information on Food Safety Week can be found at www.foodsafety.asn.au or by calling Tania Bradley at the Food Safety Information Council on (02) 6254 4896 or 0407 626 688 mobile.

Media contacts: Tania Bradley, Food Safety Information Council   (02) 6254 4896 or 0407 626 688 mobile