Mudchute responds to e coli alert

Tuesday, 22 September 2009 14:49

Mudchute Park and Farm on the Isle of Dogs is open and operating all services including the Mudchute Kitchen Tuesday–Sunday 9am–4.30pm.

We would like to assure all our visitors that immediately following the announcement of an e coli outbreak at a children's farm in Surrey, Mudchute Park and Farm put in place all recommended safety measures such as notices displayed to inform the public of good practice such as hand washing, using wet wipes, eating food only in designated areas, closely supervising children and the withdrawal of farm animal food sales. Staff members wearing Mudchute's jackets or shirts are on hand daily to give advice and answer any queries. Supervised animal handling and hand washing is taking place at weekends.

See below further information provided by the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens of which Mudchute Park and Farm is a member.

The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens is aware of reports concerning incidents of e coli infection at farms in Surrey, Nottinghamshire and in Devon. None of these farms are members of the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens. However, we are monitoring the situation closely in case there is any change of advice from Government agencies or health bodies about dealing with e coli infection.

We always encourage our member groups to follow good practice regarding hygiene and to ensure that there are adequate bio-security measures such as hand-washing facilities and information for visitors available.

As with all matters of public health, FCFCG members will take all necessary action to protect their staff and visitors at all times. In the unlikely event that an e coli infection takes place on one of our member farms, then the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens would recommend that the site be closed immediately while investigations take place.

Further information about e coli infection can be found on the Health Protection Agency website at www.hpa.org.uk. There is also information about e coli on the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs website

A useful document about minimising risk of ill-health on farms which accept visitors is published by the Health and Safety Executive and is available to download from http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais23.pdf