June 2009
Joint action on food safety
A disturbing new trend in the incidence of listeriosis was noticed by the Health Protection Agency in 2004/5. The deadly disease, commonly found in cooked meats, smoked fish and soft cheeses, was increasingly targeting the over-60s and cases had doubled since 2001.
In 2007, Food Standards Agency experts were called in to find out why. They came to a number of conclusions. One was the need for research into whether treatments for some chronic conditions among the over-60s made them more susceptible to listeria infection.
Another was the paucity of research on consumer behaviour in the home environment. Could the sudden spike have been caused by the types of food the over-60s were buying, how food was
stored, prepared and consumed? The FSA asked its social scientists to explore this.
With social scientists joining food safety experts and clinicians, we are one step closer to understanding these changing patterns of disease.
But there is no room for complacency. Until recently, listeriosis among the over- 60s appeared to be an anomaly since other bacterial causes of gastrointestinal infection were declining. Then, in March, the HPA found a similar pattern emerging in campylobacter, a foodborne disease commonly associated with raw or undercooked poultry meat and cross-contamination.
This month the FSA is launching a campaign to promote the importance of food safety in the home. Its annual Food Safety Week, from 15-21 June, will focus on food hygiene advice for the over-60s and emphasise the importance of correct storage and handling of food in the home. Local authorities are being encouraged to help spread this message that will help cut disease and
save lives.
Also in this issue, we are publishing a summary of CIEH’s annual report, which can be downloaded in its full version from the CIEH website as a PDF document. The profession made significant progress in 2008, spearheading public health campaigns across such topical issues as climate change, sunbed use and the link between good housing and good health.
By Deputy Editor Nick Warburton
Top stories:
Food safety – Hygiene alert
Social scientists are joining forces with clinicians to investigate an alarming rise in listeria and campylobacter among the over-60s. As Nick Warburton reports, attitudes to food storage, preparation and consumption in the home could provide the answer
Public health - Back To The Vision
A new public health ethic would help EHPs deliver services targeted on the specific needs of different groups, argue Sara Sharpe and Anthony Sharpe
Public health – Community Action
Scotland aims to map more clearly the links between the environment and health and to reflect this in its policies. Good Places, Better Health, a policy initiative launched by the Scottish government in December, aims to improve human health and wellbeing through a strategic approach. Evidence is collated and translated into policy and action, which can be applied locally and nationally to help develop safe and healthy environments
Food safety - Safety first Prof Pennington’s report on the 2005 Bridgend E. coli outbreak calls for new measures to improve food safety. Tim Bage argues that only prior approval of food businesses can provide sufficient protection for the public
Columnist – Nargis Kayani - Use the trusty handkerchief
Old-fashioned methods and simple good manners will help to contain swine flu
Guest columnist – Graham Russell - Inside the LBRO
Elected members need to be fully aware of the value of environmental health services.
CPD – Shedding light on sunbeds
Opinions on the use of sunbeds are divided and much of the evidence can be contradictory. How should an EHP proceed in these circumstances?
Legal –Speak only when spoken to
Stick to answering the question in the courtroom and beware of being drawn into a free-flow response for fear of saying something you didnt intend to