Consumers are being put at risk because the law is unclear on whether food businesses can use the same equipment for preparing raw and ready-to-eat foods Consumer Focus Wales has warned.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is asking for people’s views on new draft guidance to make it clear to food businesses that they must ensure separation of raw and ready-to-eat foods to the highest degree physically possible.
In South Wales in 2005 and in Scotland in 1996 people died from E.coli O157 infection because equipment was used for raw and cooked foods and was not cleaned properly.
Consumer Focus Wales is urging consumers to write to the FSA and back the proposed guidance. The consumer champion will be handing out leaflets to people at the National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale next week and has also set up an online campaign so consumers can email their views to the FSA.
Maria Battle, Senior Director for Consumer Focus Wales, said: ‘Making sure that businesses use separate equipment for raw and ready-to-eat foods – especially complex, hard-to-clean machines such as vacuum packers, mincers and slicers – would avoid cross-contamination, reduce food borne disease and save lives.
‘It is really important that the Food Standards Agency hears people’s views on this issue. We want consumers who agree with us to tell the Agency to issue this guidance and back it up with clear warnings to businesses about what will happen if they fail to comply.’
Consumers can send their views to: http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/saferfood
Consumer Focus Wales will forward on responses to the Food Standards Agency.
Responses are requested by: 5 October 2010
Notes to editors
For more information on the FSA consultation please go to: http://www.food.gov.uk/consultations/consulteng/2010/reducingriskecolio157eng
