Bethel youngster receiving his prize from Gwynedd Council Public Protection Manager, Bleddyn Davies

Gwynedd Council Promotes Food Safety Week

Gwynedd Council’s Food Safety Unit are teaming up with the Food Standards Agency to promote the National Food Safety Week which takes place from 9 to 13 June.

The theme of this year’s UK-wide campaign is "GermWatch” and Gwynedd Council’s Food Safety unit has been concentrating on ensuring that Gwynedd’s youngest residents are aware of the importance of food hygiene, and the risks posed by germs.

Gwynedd Council has been marking this year’s Food Safety Week by running a “Draw a Germ” competition for the county’s primary school children. Displays with a selection of the children’s artwork can be seen in the reception areas of Gwynedd Council offices at Caernarfon, Pwllheli and Dolgellau throughout the week.

Gwynedd Council Public Protection Manager, Bleddyn Davies said:

‘’Congratulations to all the prize winners and a special thank you to all the pupils who put so much effort into our ‘Draw the Germ’ competition. The pictures we received were of an excellent standard and showed that Gwynedd’s children take this issue seriously. 

‘’Last year nearly 5,000 Welsh residents suffered from food borne illnesses. Failure to follow basic food hygiene steps can lead to illness.”

As part of the nationwide campaign, the Food Standards Agency will introduce Grubeye the official character designed to promote the “GermWatch” brand. The brand has been created by the Food Standards Agency to deliver food hygiene information to consumers. The main focus of Food Safety Week 2008 will be to raise awareness and importance of the 4 Cs (Cooking, Cleaning, Chilling and Cross-contamination).

Grubeye is not a germ, he’s an antihero and delights in our misfortune.  Nothing makes him happier than seeing people use the same knife and chopping board for meat and then vegetables. Or forgetting to wash their hands when they’ve handled raw chicken. And undercooked food on a barbecue is his idea of food poisoning heaven. He delights in telling us how ill we’re going to make the whole family. He is an expert on food hygiene and his specialist subject is food poisoning.

Look out for future “GermWatch” campaigns and Grubeye who will be delivering “Killer Facts” about food safety.

The Council’s Food Safety Unit will have a limited supply of free Food Standards Agency lunch cool bags, ice gel packs and magnets available. For more information, or if you’re a food business or a consumer who wants advice, please contact Gwynedd Council’s Food Safety Team on 01766 771000.

The winners in Gwynedd Council’s “Draw a Germ” competition were: First Prizes - Seren Lois Evans of Ysgol Beuno Sant, Bala and Gwyndaf Appleton Davies of Ysgol Bethel, Caernarfon who both received a £15 gift voucher and a £100 of book tokens for their schools.

Second Prize - Steffan Jones,Ysgol Nefyn and Callum Gregory Ysgol Beuno Sant who both won £10 in gift vouchers.

Third Prizes - Llawen Hopkins, Ysgol Bodfeurig and Ela Jones Ysgol Edern who both won £5 in gift vouchers.

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The 'Killer Facts' used in the campaign warn of the dangers of poor food hygiene and give practical advice to consumers on how to prevent it. These are:

Cooking

Food poisoning cases double during the summer months. Cook your burgers and sausages until there is no pink meat and they are piping hot throughout.

Cleaning

More than 400 people die in the UK die from food poisoning each year. You can help protect your family by washing your hands before preparing food.

Chilling

Outside the fridge, just 10 invisible germs can multiply to 1000 in 6 hours. Keep your family's food in a cool bag or cool box when you're eating outside.

Cross-contamination

Food poisoning can kill. Help protect your family by keeping raw meat and poultry in covered containers at the bottom of the fridge.

Salmonella can be spread easily around your kitchen. Never use the same chopping board for raw and ready-to-eat foods.