Issued By
  Durham Trading
  Standards Service

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

People in County Durham are being offered the chance to get their teeth into the national debate on food production and safety.

A seminar, sponsored by the Food Standards Agency, is to be held in Durham City next week (October 20) as part of the Government’s review of the future of food and farming.

And the first 60 people to register on a hotline – 0191 269 9936 – will be invited to attend a group discussion at the Marriott Hotel, Royal County, Old Elvet, Durham City on Saturday, October 20.

On the day, officers from Durham County Council’s Consumer Services will be on hand to help answer concerns about food issues and provide free consumer information.

Phillip Holman, the County Council’s Head of Consumer Services,
said:  “The FSA has published a survey, involving over 1000 people, that looked at consumers’ attitudes to food and food concerns.

“It showed that three out of four people are concerned about the way our food is produced and that issues such as price, closely followed by taste and quality, are also important.

“This seminar is an opportunity for local consumers to voice any concerns they have about food production and safety.

“It’s a chance to say what you consider to be the important issues when buying food,” he said.

Councillor Don Ross, Deputy Leader of the County Council, said:  “It’s pleasing to see that the FSA acknowledges that local consumers may be able to make contributions to the national debate about food.”

Note to News Editors:  For further information contact Phillip Holman, Durham County Council’s Head of Consumer Services on 0191 383 3391 or Duncan Castling, divisional manager, on 0191 383 3056.