RESIDENTS in Burnley are being warned about the importance of good food hygiene.

Burnley Council is distributing 100 free fridge thermometers in a bid raise the profile of good food hygiene at the start of national food safety week, which begins on Monday.

Every year 5.5 million people in the UK could suffer from food borne illnesses - 1 in 10 people.

Germs multiply best between 5 degrees and 63 degrees centigrade, but are killed at 70 degrees and multiply much slower, if at all, at below 5 degrees centigrade.

Councillor Roger Frost, Burnley Council's member responsible for planning and environment, said: "We all learn the importance of the 3Rs at an early age, but how many of us can claim to be aware of the importance of our 4C's?

"Cleaning, Cooking, Chilling and avoiding Cross-contami-nation are at the heart of this year's Food Safety Week theme - Germ Watch'. I urge residents to get hold of a free thermometer."

The thermometers, supplied for free by Electronic Temperature Instruments Ltd, are available from Burnley Council, but stocks are limited so residents are being urged to contact the council for their free thermometer as soon as possible.

Councillor Frost added: "Even something as simple as regularly checking to see if the temperature of your fridge is correct will improve hygiene standards as keeping food below 5C slows down the growth rate of Bacteria.

"That's why the council is giving away a number of free fridge freezer thermometers to residents."

Ilyas Patel, Burnley Council's Health Liaison Officer, said: "There are any number of really simple ways to make sure you are storing and preparing food hygienically.

"For example make sure you keep any raw meat and poultry in covered containers at the bottom of the fridge and never use the same chopping board for raw and ready to eat foods.

"And if you're having a barbeque this summer always make sure that your burgers and sausages are cooked until piping hot throughout and that there is no pink meat left, and of course always make sure you wash your hands before preparing any kind of food".

To claim your free thermometer write including your name and address to: National Food Safety Week, Planning & Environmental Services, Burnley Borough Council 1st Floor, Parker Lane, Burnley, BB11 2DT or email envhealth@burnley.gov.uk