ADVICE on how to avoid food poisoning while cooking at home will be one of the main themes of Food Safety Week.

Darlington Borough Council is backing the event, which starts on Sunday, June 9, and aims to highlight the importance of food safety and hygiene in the home, based on the 4Cs – cooking cleaning, chilling and cross-contamination.

The council has asked residents to complete a kitchen check leaflet and compare their behaviour against good practice.

The leaflet also includes some tips to help cook improve their food safety habits such as clearing space; preparing the work surface; washing hands; what, how and where to store goods in the fridge and how to check food is properly cooked.

Councillor Andy Scott, cabinet member for health, said: “Cross-contamination at home is one of the major causes of food poisoning. The kitchen leaflet checks, as part of Food Safety Week, is an opportunity to remind ourselves of what we should and shouldn’t be doing when preparing, storing and cooking meals at home.”

For more information visit food.gov.uk