Introduction Proposal and objectives Membership Funding and organisation What now? Back to papers

 

INTRODUCTION

The Food and Drugs Administration in the USA funds the Food Safety Training Alliance. Free membership gives members access to relevant websites, training material production news, and considerable information about how to train non-English speaking food handlers. Visit www.fstea.org .

In the UK it is nearly 20 years since the inception of the first foundation food hygiene certificate examination. Syllabuses and the way questions are worded have changed little. The diversity of languages spoken amongst food handlers working in the UK has increased. Candidates and managers often have difficulties with practical implementation of the theory taught on courses. See MacAuslan E, Food hygiene training in the UK: time for a radical re-think? The Journal of The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health ;December 2001, 121 (4), pp 213-219.

A very wide range of organisations, examination bodies, businesses, and agencies have various diverse interests in the way food hygiene training is and should be conducted in the UK if food handling practices are to improve. There is no single partnership or organisation which co-ordinates alliances with these interested parties.

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PROPOSAL and OBJECTIVES

The potential exists to develop a UK Partnership for Food Safety Education committed to improving the accessibility, availability and effectiveness of food safety training in the UK. The objectives would be:

• Form partnerships with industry, education, health, consumer, trade, and enforcement agencies, etc to share food safety education materials and conduct joint education activities in order to share resources and expand the reach of the partners.
  
• Form a partnership of food safety education expertise.
  
• Develop multilingual communication techniques targeted to specific groups to overcome communication barriers faced by trainers and food handlers.

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MEMBERSHIP

A diverse membership is envisaged, with representatives coming from organisations such as: Government agencies, accredited examination bodies, industry and trade associations, retail food sector , catering businesses, NHS, hospitality and leisure premises, education establishments and colleges, business advisor groups, registered trainers, accredited examination bodies, local authorities, HM Forces, and consultants.

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FUNDING and ORGANISATION

An evaluation will be required of various fund raising options including grants, EU and other public funds. A proportionate contribution from members who are likely to benefit may be considered as well.

If there is enough interest in developing a partnership the first tasks will be to:

• Discuss, agree and prioritise the aims and objectives of the partnership.
• Discuss and agree how these goals are best achieved.
  
• Co-ordinate all publicly funded training initiatives on food safety.
  
• Agree resources to address one or many of the current food safety training issues.
  
• Produce effective methods to improve food hygiene standards amongst the general public.

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WHAT NOW?

If you are in favour of a UK partnership please contact:

Euan MacAuslan, Environmental Health Training Co-ordinator , The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Council Offices, 37 Pembroke Road, London W8 6PW.
e-mail : euan.macauslan@rbkc.gov.uk or telephone 020 7341 5606.

Once the results have been collected and analysed you may be contacted in late 2002 with further information about the progress of any future development of the partnership.

The views expressed in this article are those of Euan MacAuslan, and not necessarily The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

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