LONDON—The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is kicking off Food Safety Week 2009 by tackling the rise in Listeria food poisoning among older people by launching a new campaign to warn about the dangers of Listeria and the simple steps that can be taken to avoid it.
According to the FSA, the number of cases of Listeria food poisoning rose by 20 percent in 2007 and doubled since 2000; the increase has occurred predominantly among people over age 60. New research revealed that less than half of this age group recognizes “use by” dates as an important indicator of whether food is safe and could be putting them at risk of serious illness.
FSA will work with doctors, pharmacies and a range of community groups across the United Kingdom, specifically in areas with large populations of older people. The campaign will be spearheaded by a poster and leaflet campaign. Food-safety information also will be targeted directly at older people through messages and advice printed on millions of paper bags used for dispensing prescriptions.
