Council Informs Education and Catering Services About E.coli O157

The Highland Council is writing to all pre-school, early years and nursery groups in Highland to remind managers and proprietors of their responsibilities regarding infection control and food hygiene and E.coli O157.

A similar letter is also being sent to all Education, Culture and Sport Service catering establishments which includes school canteens, leisure centres, swimming pools, museums and visitor centre cafes.

Bruce Robertson, The Highland Council’s Director of Education, Culture and Sport said: "Clearly we are taking the recent events in Fife and Aberdeenshire very seriously and we have been in discussion with our Environmental Health Officers, with colleagues in NHS Highland and with the Director of Public Health who have provided guidance that we are issuing on E.coli O157."

In the letter, Alan Yates, Highland Council’s Principal Food Safety Officer reminds managers of their responsibilities regarding infection control and food hygiene and provides basic advice on E.coli O157. He also reminds them of the National Care Standards and general Health and Safety law which place clear responsibilities on them to protect the health of children in their care.

He said: "This includes taking measures to control the spread of infection. NHS Highland produces a guidance booklet ‘Infection Control Guidance for the Pre-school setting’, which provides all the key information on prevention and control of infection in early years establishments. Copies are available free by calling the NHS Highland Health Protection team on 01463 704886.

Regarding food hygiene, Mr Yates reminds managers of the Food Safety legislation that places responsibilities on managers and proprietors to ensure all food prepared in premises is safe to eat. Detailed advice is available from local environmental health offices.