Residents warned to be careful of home cooking as barbecue season approaches

With the summer approaching, people cooking at home are being urged to take extra care to avoid food poisoning from badly prepared food.

To mark UK Food Safety Week 7 June to 13 June, Southwark Council and its partners will be hosting events to get residents to take extra care to maintain hygiene in the kitchen.

A total of 164 cases of food poisoning were reported to the council's Food Safety Team last year and the team expects to see this number increasing as the weather gets warmer and more people prepare barbeques and picnics.

Cllr John Friary, cabinet member for community safety at Southwark Council, said: "People should not worry unduly about food poisoning but at the same time should take some simple common sense steps to avoid getting ill.

"Just storing, handling and cooking food properly will minimise the risk. Our series of events throughout Food Safety Week is a great opportunity for residents to learn more about this issue and make sure their summer isn't spoiled."

Further information

There are around 120,000 extra cases of illness recorded across the UK when the weather is warmest.

The food team will be working with the Primary Care Trust and the Health Protection Unit on the actions that are particularly important in preventing food poisoning.

The council will be running the following activities throughout Food Safety Week.

• Information display stand at the Town Hall, Peckham on 7 June for the duration of the week, where council officers will be available to answer queries and give advice
   
• Food Safety Officers will visit residents in their homes and provide useful food safety advice
   
• The Food Safety Team will carry out environmental swabbing of food preparation surfaces and relevant kitchen equipment in homes where this has been an issue in the past. 

Click here for information on the council's food safety team and their services.

Click here for more advice on food safety go to