Food staff to undergo new course in hygiene

Health officials have launched a course for food industry workers to help cut down on the incidence of accidental food poisoning. The eight-part Primary Course in Food Hygiene was introduced yesterday in Dublin by the Minister of State for Health, Dr Tom Moffatt. It was designed by the Environmental Health Officers Association and sponsored by the Department of Health and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

It was devised in light of new food hygiene laws in the EU as well as Ireland.

"With an Irish Commissioner being responsible for food safety, the eyes of Europe are on us to monitor our success and, indeed, failure in this whole area," said Mr Alan Reilly, director of operations with the Food Safety Authority. "No food sector can afford to have a food poisoning outbreak due to lack of knowledge or non-compliance with new EU or national food laws."

The course was developed in response to the food industry's need for training to deal with emerging food safety issues, according to the chairman of the Environmental Health Officers Association, Mr Ian Daly. "Both enforcement agencies and the food industry need to accelerate the introduction of the mandatory training of food workers in all areas," Mr Daly said. The training would increase public confidence and help ensure food safety.

The course will be given over a number of weeks. It will be provided in all eight health board areas by local environmental health officers, and covers food safety systems and methods. It costs between £25 and £60 for each employee, and up to 6,000 catering and hospitality industry workers are expected to complete it this year.