Goody bags including food thermometers and a host of food safety tips are up for grabs at the events, which are being hosted by Ribble Valley Borough Council's environmental health team.

The surgeries are part of National Food Safety Week, which this year focuses on the proper storage and handling of food in the home by the over-60s. Cases of listeria – an infection caused by bacteria in ready-to-eat foods, such as pre-packed sandwiches, cooked sliced meats, soft cheeses and patés – have doubled since 2001, with 70% of them among the over-60s.

The borough council's environmental health manager, James Russell, said: "Germs found in food can lead to food poisoning, which can be dangerous and even kill. They are impossible to detect, since they do not usually affect the taste, appearance or smell of food.

"While healthy people are not normally at any risk from listeria, it can be severe or even life-threatening in certain vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and the elderly.

"We are advising members of the public to regularly wash their hands, ensure food is kept at the correct temperature in the fridge, then thoroughly cooked, and that their kitchens are clean. Better still, if they attend one of our free food safety surgeries, we will give them a host of advice, as well as a useful goody bag."

The surgeries will take place on a drop-in basis at the Ribble Valley Borough Council offices in Church Walk, Clitheroe, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on June 19th and 26th. Further details are available from the environmental health team on 01200 414464.

James Russell's top five tips for food safety are:
1 – Use different chopping boards and kitchen utensils for raw meat and cooked foods.
2 – Never leave perishable food outside of the fridge for more than two hours.
3 – For best results, set the temperature of your freezer at -18°C and fridges between 1 and 4°C.
4 – Store raw food on a different fridge shelf below ready-to-eat food or, better still, use separate fridges.
5 – Clean as you go when cooking. It can keep germs down to a minimum and saves time in the long run!