Heatwave increases food safety concerns

The heatwave across the UK may have boosted beer sales, but it has also raised concerns about food hygiene in pubs and other catering businesses.

In the first week of July alone, 1,137 cases of chronic food poisoning were reported to local authorities in England and Wales, well above the seasonal average. Health & Safety and Food Safety consultancy Shieldyourself predicts that the figures could be running 30 per cent higher than normal by the end of August.

Figure published by the Food Standards agency earlier this month showed that local authority EHOs identify around one pub in ten as posing a serious risk to public health, and around six in ten as a minor risk. The survey of the trade carried out for The Publican​ Market Report 2006 shows that 50 per cent of pubs have received a visit from the EHO in the past six months, and another 26 per cent in the past year.

Official figures put Leeds at the top of the list of food poisoning danger spots, with 1,307 reported cases last year. Birmingham, Sheffield, Wakefield and Wandsworth closely followed with between 540 and 1,200 cases. The next five areas in England for food poisoning last year were Sunderland, Doncaster, Kirklees and Bromley, with Colchester in tenth position.

Mark Flanagan, Director of Shieldyourself says: "We are increasingly at risk with the warmer weather, since warm conditions are the perfect breeding ground for germs."

He added: "It is important it is to maintain stringent health and hygiene working practice. Although the majority of cases incur only short-term symptoms, it has been estimated that there are up to 600 deaths as a direct result of food poisoning each year. Caterers need to be aware that in the worst case scenario, they could face manslaughter charges."

The Publican ​Market Report 2006 is published on August 14.