New Report Highlights Problems

A new report could prove to be a wake-up call for restaurants and takeaways in terms of hygiene, a lawyer at Irwin Mitchell has suggested.

Katrina Elsey, who specialises in cases related to public liability, commented after research by the Health Protection Agency suggested that over half of cleaning cloths used in such premises contain unsatisfactory levels of bacteria.

In addition, despite guidelines suggesting restaurants make use of disposable cloths which can be changed regularly, the report also revealed that only a third of those assessed followed such guidelines.

According to Elsey, the industry should take note of the findings and act on them immediately to ensure the public are safe from harmful bacteria.

“Many people enjoy eating out and they should be able to do so without facing risks that can easily be prevented,” she explained.

“We have dealt with many cases which have highlighted the dangers of food poisoning and it is vital that eateries across the UK take the findings of the study on board.”

According to the NHS, around 92,000 cases of food poisoning were reported in England and Wales during 2007.