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September 06-08, 2018 | Edinburgh, Scotland
Food safety and Hygiene
International Conference on
Journal of Food Technology and Preservation | ISSN: 2591-796X | Volume 2
Safe food handling: How to reach the consumer?
Wieke van der Vossen-Wijmenga
Wageningen University and Research and Netherlands Nutrition Centre, The Netherlands
Estimates by the National Institute for Public Health and
the Environment (RIVM) show that, each year, there are
about 700,000 cases of gastrointestinal symptoms related
to contaminated food in the Netherlands. In about 40%
of foodborne infection clusters reported to the Centre for
Infectious Disease Control (CIb), the food preparation site
was stated to be ‘home’. Therefore, because most of these
foodborne infections occur in the home, consumers must focus
on food safety when buying, washing, separating, heating and
refrigerating food. This presentation underpins the Netherlands
Nutrition Centre’s recommendations to consumers for
preventing foodborne infections. In 2015, 2016 and 2017 a
campaign has been turned off which was funded by the Dutch
Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports. During this campaign
not only information was provided and awareness created, but
also tools were developed to help the consumer. Tools like a
refrigerator thermometer were distributed by retailers to help
consumers improve their safe food handling practices. Besides
providingpracticalinformationandtoolstoconsumersregarding
safe food handling, also topics are addressed that people
are worried about. Take E-numbers (additives) or pesticides.
Perception of risks by consumers can differ significantly
from the scientific insights. During this presentation it will be
presented how much this risk perception differs and how the
NetherlandsNutritionCenter communicates about these topics.
Speaker Biography
Wieke van der Vossen-Wijmenga has graduated as a food scientist in 1997 from
Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands. She has specialized in food
microbiology. Currently she works as an expert for food safety at the Netherlands
NutritionCentre.TheNetherlandsNutritionCentre istheforemostauthorityconsumers
turn to for scientifically evidenced, independent information on healthy and safe food,
as well as for making more sustainable food choices. She is responsible for accurate
and up to date information and acts as the Nutrition Centre’s spokesperson for food
safety. Before joining the Netherlands Nutrition Centre she worked as a senior Lead
Assessor and Food Safety Manager for various organizations within the food industry.
e:
Wieke van der Vossen Wijmenga, Food Safety 2018, Volume 2
DOI: 10.4066/2591-796X-C1-002