Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 1

Written Answers. - Food Safety.

Bernard Allen

Question:

182 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he proposes to take to implement the new guidelines prepared by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland aimed at raising standards of food safety and hygiene practices in the fast food sector. [25608/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

While the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has not actually introduced new guidelines for the fast food sector, in its new booklet Safe Food To Go, it has highlighted certain key basic hygiene practices that are already laid down in the official standards, NSAI 340 – 342.

Section 12 of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, 1998 provides that "in order to achieve the highest level of protection reasonably available in the interests of public health and consumer protection, the Authority shall promote, encourage and foster at all stages of food production, from primary production through to final use by the consumer, the establishment and maintenance of high standards of food hygiene and safety".

In pursuit of this function, the Food Safety Authority has undertaken a promotional campaign targeted at the fast food and convenience food sector, highlighting the legal obligations of food business owners, the need for training and the public health risks involved in this food sector. Safe Food To Go is a comprehensive booklet suitable for food business owners and food handlers, which focuses on fast food. The authority recently held a series of seminars for take-away restaurant owners at venues throughout the country at which the hygiene responsibilities of food handlers were outlined and supplies of the booklet distributed to over four hundred companies. The Food Safety Authority has also undertaken hygiene presentations at food fairs and industry exhibitions. The booklets are also being distributed by environmental health officers of the health boards. In total, the authority has distributed over 4,400 leaflets since it first came into print in September 1999 and distribution is continuing.

The Government established the Food Safety Authority of Ireland as a statutory independent agency with responsibility,inter alia, for the promotion of food safety and I fully support its initiative in the fast food sector.