DOZENS of people in the catering, restaurant, café and pub trade attended the first Fenland Food Forum recently, set up by the Council to promote better food hygiene systems that are enshrined in the new Food Hygiene Regulations (England) 2006. The counci

DOZENS of people in the catering, restaurant, café and pub trade attended the first Fenland Food Forum recently, set up by the Council to promote better food hygiene systems that are enshrined in the new Food Hygiene Regulations (England) 2006.

The council hosted a day-long series of events for more than 90 food-related businesses. This included advice and information on new food legislation and on the Safer Food, Better Business advice pack that the Food Standards Agency produced for small and medium sized food businesses.

There were four sessions throughout the day which received a terrific response from organisations keen to work with the council to improve food hygiene standards. However, there are about 900 food businesses in Fenland and they can all benefit from becoming part of the forum.

The new Fenland Food Forum is a multi-agency group led by the council. It is made up of local businesses, council environmental health officers, Trading Standards, the Primary Care Trusts and is open to all food businesses and consumers in Fenland.

The Forum has been developed in recent months and this event is the first of an on-going programme. The council's aim is to encourage businesses to engage in an informal framework with officers who have a responsibility for food safety.

Councillor Peter Murphy, portfolio holder with responsibility for environmental health, said: "The Forum is an important mechanism for working in a spirit of co-operation with food-related businesses. It is also a fantastic vehicle for sharing information, particularly on the implications of new food safety legislation. This is just another example of the council working proactively with the business community and Government agencies for the benefit of local people.