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Oliver's flagship Ministry of Food is shut down

ROTHERHAM, England, June 29 (UPI) -- Local government officials in England said they shut down celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food over worker safety issues, not the safety of the food.

The Rotherham Borough Council confirmed in a statement the community cafe that opened in 2008 was temporarily closed but said there were no concerns over food safety, The Independent said Saturday.

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Oliver opened the cafe and educational center with support from taxpayers to help teach members of the community ways to cook and eat healthier food. He did so after video surfaced of parents passing fast food and soda through fences as a local school.

Oliver has opened five similar places across England since the Rotherham cafe opened in 2008.

"Five years after the Ministry of Food launched in Rotherham, it is appropriate that this assessment takes place to ensure the service continues to meet its main objectives of encouraging local people to cook and eat healthy food and providing training activities in local communities," the borough council said in a statement.

No timetable was set for the Ministry of Food to reopen but the council said it would be at "the earliest opportunity."

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