Health and Community Services
April 7, 2015

Supporting the Health of Families and Communities

World Health Day Recognized in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Provincial Government is recognizing today, April 7, as World Health Day in Newfoundland and Labrador. Created to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948, World Health Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the value of health and well-being for all residents. This year�s theme is Food Safety.

�World Health Day is an important opportunity for all countries to recognize the value of public health and the actions and policies that are required to uphold that value. The World Health Organization is an international leader on global health matters and it is important that we acknowledge its role and participate in awareness activities in this province. Food Safety is this year�s theme and is a key public health priority for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.�
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services

Food safety in Newfoundland and Labrador requires collaboration by multiple departments including the Departments of Health and Community Services, Natural Resources, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Service NL, as well as with the Federal Government. The Provincial Government monitors food safety in close to 4,000 licensed food premises by conducting approximately 6,000 inspections annually.

Food safety at home is important as well. There are a number of precautions residents can take to ensure food is prepared in a way that is safe and healthy.

Additional food safety tips include:

• Keep raw foods like poultry, meat and fish refrigerated prior to cooking and keep them away from food items that are ready-to-eat without further cooking, such as fruit and vegetables;
• Never place cooked food on the same plates that held raw meat or poultry;
• Marinate poultry, meat and fish in the refrigerator, not at room temperature. Never reuse the marinade on cooked or ready-to-eat food;
• To ensure that harmful bacteria such as Salmonella are destroyed, cook poultry pieces and ground beef burgers to the recommended internal temperatures (74�C for poultry, 71�C for ground beef); and
• Promptly refrigerate leftovers and discard any food left out for more than a couple of hours.

To learn more about food safety in Newfoundland and Labrador, visit www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/publichealth/envhealth/foodsafetyinfo.html.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government is recognizing today, April 7, as World Health Day to raise awareness of the value of health and well-being in the province. This year�s theme is Food Safety.
• World Health Day was created to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948.
• The Provincial Government monitors food safety in 4,000 licensed food premises by conducting approximately 6,000 inspections annually.
• Residents can ensure food safety at home by keeping raw meats separate from ready-to-eat foods, ensuring foods are cooked to the appropriate internal temperatures and storing food safely.
• Residents can learn more about food safety in Newfoundland and Labrador at www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/publichealth/envhealth/foodsafetyinfo.html.

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Media contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2015 04 07                                                 3:10 p.m.