LESSONS in food hygiene were given to pupils at Elgar Technology College as part of a national campaign to cut the number of food poisoning cases.

Pupils were taught to wash their hands before and after handling food, how to keep raw and cooked foods apart and to use different chopping boards for raw and ready-to-eat food.

The city council's environmental health officer for food, Wendy Downie, demonstrated props including a hand washing machine, which uses ultraviolet light to detect whether hands have been washed properly.

Throughout the rest of the week, food hygiene classes will be given at Blessed Edward Olcorne RC School, Nunnery Wood High School, Bishop Perowne CE High School and Alice Ottley School.

Official estimates reveal 4.5 million people in the UK went down with food poisoning last year.

"Most cases go unreported and therefore uninvestigated," said Miss Downie

"We hope the local involvement we are planning for National Food Safety Week will raise awareness amongst both school children and their families on the importance of food hygiene."