North Tyneside Council's environmental health officers have joined forces with Age Concern to alert to over 60s of the dangers of listeria – a type of food poisoning bacteria that can live and grow in food.

Food safety officers from the council are also visiting premises that prepare or sell food to older people, including community centres and church hall kitchens, to ask they help pass on the important health messages.

The dangers of the bacteria are already well publicised to pregnant women – one of the groups at most risk from listeria – but it is not so well that anyone over the age of 60, is ill or has a long-term medical condition is also at a higher risk.

The number of cases of listeria in people over 60 has doubled in the past nine years.

And one in three of the people who get food poisoning caused by listeria die as a result.

Trevor Greener, the council's environmental health food safety team leader, said: "Listeria is a very common bacteria which grows rapidly on chilled food in the fridge, including pate, cooked sliced meats, soft cheeses and smoked fish.

"But it can be a killer, particularly to those who are older, are ill or vulnerable due to a long term medical condition.

"Over the next week we will be visiting places that are particularly relevant to these target groups at risk to encourage people to be extra vigilant when preparing or using food to ensure they stay safe."

There are three key steps to protecting yourself from listeria – observing 'use by' dates on food; keeping the temperature of your fridge between 0u02DAC and 5u02DAC; checking and following food storage instructions correctly.

For more information about food safety visit www.eatwell.gov.uk/listeria