Food Standards Agency
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Welsh language DVD guide for butchers launched

The FSA has produced a Welsh language version of the DVD for those working in butchers shops, to encourage them to think about the type of food safety risks they face in their business and how they should control them. It focuses on butchers talking about the steps they have taken to reduce food safety risks.

The DVD has been produced as part of the Agency’s response to addressing the recommendations of the public inquiry into the serious outbreak of E.coli O157 in Wales in 2005, and follows the earlier release of the English language version.

Rob Wilkins, head of the local authority delivery and support team at the FSA's office in Cardiff, said: 'We want to encourage butchers to put simple measures in place to ensure the food they provide is safe, thereby protecting consumers and their businesses. The butchers featured in the DVD show how they have done it, and demonstrate that it's not as complicated as you might think.'

'E.coli O157 Canllaw Cigyddion ar aros yn ddiogel' focuses on three key areas:

  • the threat that E.coli O157 poses to businesses and their customers
  • the importance of separation in controlling cross-contamination
  • the role of documented food safety management procedures in ensuring food safety and the ease with which they may be embedded into everyday working practices

The DVD is a useful resource for local authorities that carry out enforcement activity at butchers' premises, and forms part of a range of guidance the Agency has produced.

Huw Williams, assistant director for environmental services and housing with Ceredigion County Council, said: 'The guide presents a common-sense approach to preventing cross-contamination and managing food safety risks. The film illustrates that whilst producing food safely requires businesses to be organised and committed, this is not necessarily burdensome.'

The DVD can be viewed online at the link below or you can order a copy by calling Food Standards Agency Publications (quoting FSA/1638/1111) on 0845 606 0667 or email: foodstandards@ecgroup.co.uk.

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