Clean hands make litigation-free work

Food-handlers, who are a critical presence in an increasing number of food outlets in the Republic, are set to benefit from what is claimed to be "Ireland's first hygiene guidebook".

Published by the Western Health Board, it is designed to help avoid pitfalls that could lead to a food-poisoning outbreak, and to negotiate the legislation that applies to such work. Moreover, employers of food-handlers are legally required to ensure their employees receive appropriate training and can be held liable in the event of an outbreak.

The publication of Food Hygiene for Food Handlers was marked at the weekend by the Minister of State for Health, Mr Tom Moffatt, who said that in the challenging world of food safety "understanding of the latest guidelines and legislation, tog ether with the newest industry standards and modern food safety management systems is paramount".

A rapidly growing economy has seen equally strong growth in the number of food-handlers, ranging from young people working in petrol stations or corner shops to more sophisticated preparers of food in restaurants, caterer kitchens or food-processing plants.