This poster will be distributed to public and private nurseries, pre-schools and other resource centres.

A delicious mud pie, a good-luck rock, or a friendly frog are just a few of the presents kids love to bring home, but behind these adorable gifts, millions of germs could be lurking.

Safefood have a campaign which aims to teach toddlers the importance of hand-washing. Making hand washing fun for children and a part of their daily routine both at pre-school and home will prevent the spread of harmful bacteria. Children will learn to wash their hands after messy play, before they eat and after they use the toilet. Using the simple steps of soap, rub, rinse and dry the campaign aims to instil good habits in children from an early age, developing a healthy habit for life. They have also produced a special hand washing song sung to the tune of Row, Row, Row your boat.

Further information is available on safefood.eu

It is widely accepted that there is a correct technique to good hand washing and separate studies from around the world show that good hand hygiene practices can reduce illness, sickness absence and the associated costs by up to 40%!

Good hand hygiene practice is an important part of disease prevention, but it is often not entirely effective as most people do not wash their hands well enough to prevent the spread of disease. Statistically around 75% of women and only 50% of men wash their hands after visiting the toilet.*

However, numerous studies continue to demonstrate that the correct procedure for hand washing isn't adhered to. So starting with the very young hopefully these statistics will improve in the decades ahead.

(*source International Food Hygiene vol 21 number 2 2010)

The correct procedure for hand-washing is:-

...and you should be able to sing TWO verses of "Happy Birthday" in the time it takes to wash your hands effectively!

As Good Hand Hygiene is a must... have some fun with the kids whilst spreading the message!

Find these words in the puzzle:

Soap
Warm
Water
Scrub
Wash
Fingers
Wrists
Hands
Dry

 

84% of people did not wash hands properly after handling raw chicken

72% did not properly wash knife used in preparing raw chicken before reuse on salad vegetables

Research by safefood revealed that 84% of people did not thoroughly wash their hands after handling raw chicken. The campaign titled “Don’t Take Risks” focuses on key messages of proper hand washing, proper cleaning of cooking utensils and thorough cooking, steps all of which can help minimise the risks of food poisoning in the home. The research also revealed that 72% failed to properly wash a knife used in preparing raw chicken before its reuse on salad vegetables, and 56% did not check if the chicken was cooked properly.

The safefood study recorded the food hygiene practices of 120 participants across the island of Ireland while they prepared two meals – a homemade beef burger and a warm chicken salad. The research findings revealed poor food hygiene behaviours, with more than a third of what participants considered to be “cooked” beef burgers being contaminated with raw meat bacteria. In addition, more than half of consumers did not thoroughly wash the chopping board used to prepare raw mince before reusing it to prepare salad.

Martin Higgins, Chief Executive, safefood said “There is clear evidence that consumers are not following basic hygiene rules in the kitchen when they are preparing food, therefore putting loved ones at risk from food poisoning. This campaign is a powerful, visual reminder to consumers of the dangers of poor food safety behaviour, as they may often be unaware of how their day to day food preparation habits can cause themselves and others harm. By following some simple food hygiene practices, consumers can help prevent the spread of food poisoning bacteria around the kitchen”.

The safefood “Don’t Take Risks” campaign reinforced three golden rules: cook chicken and minced meat thoroughly until piping hot all the way through with no pink meat remaining and the juices running clear; always wash hands in warm, soapy water after handling raw meat or chicken; and always wash utensils such as knives and chopping boards thoroughly after use with raw meat and chicken and before reuse with ready to eat foods such as salads.

Dr. Gary Kearney, Director Food Science, safefood added “Our research highlighted real food safety issues in the kitchen relating to food preparation and hygiene. safefood commissioned this study to look at the way in which people prepare meals in their homes. This study also highlights inadequate hand washing habits, as one third of participants still had raw meat bacteria contamination on their hands after preparing the meals.

We would urge all consumers to consider these significant findings, examine their own food preparation behaviours and to take these easy steps to always prepare food safely”.