It's only make-believe, but food poisoning is serious

I realise that your Info Zone story "Coping with staff crisis" (Caterer, 15 June, page 37) is a theoretical exercise, and recognise that the whole process and solutions are all about keeping the holiday camp running.

There is, however, no mention of food safety or the procedures to be adopted in such a case.

This is obviously a serious outbreak of food poisoning, and the procedures followed show a total disregard of compliance to Food Safety Regulation 4(3) Food Safety Act 1990, and a total disregard of the clientele at the holiday camp.

Food safety is paramount, and management and owners of catering establishments should bear in mind that all persons involved directly or indirectly in food preparation or production should be trained to a competent level in food safety.

Staff training to a basic competence level takes six hours at a registered college or university.

The conclusion of this case study should have ended in the temporary closure of the holiday camp by local environmental health officers and heavy fines for the owners and the catering manager if found guilty of not complying with food safety regulations.

Owen McGrory, Paisley, Scotland.