Media release: 15 October 2016
The Food Safety Information Council has launched two new hand washing posters for Global Handwashing Day 15 October 2016.
Rachelle Williams, Council Chair, said that although there are 4.1 million cases of food poisoning in Australia each year these can be reduced by thorough hand washing.
‘Unlike other major diseases stopping food poisoning involves simple solutions and one of these is hand washing. We are encouraging every Australian household, school and workplace to download our posters, print them out and put them where they are noticeable in kitchens and bathrooms.
‘We have designed 2 posters, one for adults and one for children and, in both cases, we suggest singing ‘Happy birthday to you’ so you can time the 20 second period you need to wash and then dry your hands,’ Ms Williams concluded.
Below are three tips on how to wash your hands correctly:
- Wet your hands and rub together well to build up a good lather with soap as the suds help to loosen the bugs. Do this for at least 20 seconds and don’t forget to wash between your fingers and under your nails. You might have to use a nail brush
- Rinse well under running water to wash away the bugs from your hands
- Dry your hands thoroughly on a clean towel for at least 20 seconds – a hand dryer may take a little longer.
Always wash and dry your hands:
- before handling, preparing and eating food
- after touching raw meat, fish, shell eggs or chicken
- after using the toilet, attending to children’s (or others) toiletting and changing nappies
- after blowing your nose
- after touching a pet.
Do not touch sores, wounds and cuts when handling and preparing food.
The posters can be downloaded from here together with a range of other material that can be used for Australian Food Safety Week 6 to 12 November 2016.
Media Contact: Lydia Buchtmann, Food Safety Information Council, 0407 626 688 info@foodsafety.asn.au
The Food Safety Information Council is Australia’s leading disseminator of consumer-targeted food safety information and a health promotion charity. Australian Food Safety Week is the major activity of the Food Safety Information Council. For further Information and how to donate see: www.foodsafety.asn.au