Staff at Alice Springs food outlets are being offered free food hygiene workshops courtesy of the Department of Health and Families Environmental Health Program in Central Australia.
The two-hour food safety presentations, to be held on Wednesday and Thursday 1 - 2 July, are an ideal opportunity for cooks and service staff to update their safe food handling practices, according to DHF Environmental Health Officer Aaron Clifford.
"The food outlets in town are generally of a high standard but you can never be too careful when it comes to the public's health. This food safety presentation includes the latest information on food safety practices and is particularly valuable for people new to the food service industry.
The presentation will also look at good food outlet and workflow design and the importance of the National Food Safety Standards.
"Food poisoning results from bacteria growing on and contaminating food which has been poorly cooked, handled or stored. The food may look and smell normal, but in the right conditions a single bacterium can grow into millions of bacteria in just several hours.
"Contracting food poisoning is a most unpleasant experience. Symptoms of can include nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, fever and headaches. For food outlet proprietors, it's just not worth the risk to their customers and their hard earned reputation, to cause a food poisoning outbreak," Mr Clifford said.
"It is important that food handlers frequently wash their hands thoroughly when preparing food. They should also cook food properly and always strive to keep the workspace and utensils clean," Mr Clifford added.
Proprietors of food outlets should contact the Environmental Health Program on 8955 6122 to make a booking for one of the two sessions at the Mwerre Building (Old Centrelink) 1st Floor, 60 Hartley Street, Alice Springs:
- Wednesday 1 July between 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm
- Thursday 2 July between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon
Media contacts: Cameron Jackson 0401 114 113; Darrel Trueman 0401 116 203
Release date: Wednesday 24 June 2009
