The theme of Australian Food Safety Week, to be held from 11 to 18 November 2017, is ‘Is it done yet? Using a thermometer to check if your food is cooked safely’.
Food Safety Information Council Chair, Rachelle Williams, said the Council was focusing on the priority of the Australian and New Zealand Food Ministerial Forum to reduce foodborne illness, particularly the escalating rates of Campylobacter and Salmonella infection in Australia.
‘Each year an estimated 4.1 million people get food poisoning in Australia, 1 million Australians have to visit a doctor with food poisoning, 32,000 people end up in hospital and 86 people die,’ Ms Williams said.
‘Australian Food Safety Week is the major activity of the Food Safety Information Council and plays a vital role in reducing the cases of food poisoning in the Australia community. Educating people to purchase a food thermometer for their home kitchen and to learn how to use it correctly to cook food safely will contribute to a reduction in food poisoning.
‘A downloadable package of material for use in Australian Food Safety Week events, including a draft media release, an online quiz and safe cooking temperature advice graphics will be available from the end of September.
Visit www.foodsafety.asn.au for more information.