Professional

safefood has launched a new training programme for Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and third-level catering lecturers to help protect consumers who suffer from a food allergy. The training will help increase awareness of food allergies and allergen control in the catering industry. Food allergy is an emerging hazard for the catering industry and it is estimated that up to 3% of the population may be living with a food allergy.

The safefood training initiative is being delivered on an all-island basis and will support EHOs who regulate the operation of food premises, and catering lecturers who train future caterers, by highlighting that allergens should be recognised as a food safety hazard and dealt with like other food safety hazards. The training programme will ultimately enable the catering trade to assist customers who may have a food allergy, intolerance or coeliac condition.

The training workshops will be held in the Dublin and Belfast areas over April.  Places are limited and invited attendees are requested to book their place prior to the event.

Training dates: April 2009

The training workshops were held in different locations throughout Northern Ireland in March.

Pictured  at the recent training workshop on food allergy in the South Western College, Dungannon are (L-R) James McIntosh, safefood; Karen Martin, Workshop Trainer; Ian Leitch, safefood and Victor Refausse, South West College.

Northern Ireland training dates: March 2009

For further information, please contact James McIntosh, Chief Specialist Toxicology, at 021 230 4100 or email jmcintosh@safefood.eu