Coleraine ignorance over food poisoning

A recent survey has revealed local people's ignorance of what causes food poisoning.

85% of people surveyed in the Coleraine area had not heard of Northern Ireland's most common form of food poisioning bacteria, Campylobacter.

The survey, which was carried out by Safefood and the Foods Standards Agency for Food Safety Week shows that 986 cases of Campylobacter were reported in Northern Ireland last year.

This figure is considerably higher than Salmonella, the more commonly known form of food poisioning, which had 159 cases reported.

Food Safety Week is taking place across Northern Ireland this week, its purpose to get consumers involved in preventing food poisoning by Campylobacter.

The public are being reminded of the importance of good food hygiene and are being urged to prevent the spread of germs from raw foods to ready to eat foods through cross-contamination and to cook poultry and meat thoroughly.