An estimated one million cases of poisoning occur in the UK every year. This doesn’t stop over the festive season.
To save you and your loved ones from a case of food poisoning over the holidays, Cumberland Council’s Environmental Health team have provided some simple steps.
- When bagging up Christmas shopping, ensure that you take enough bags to enable you to avoid cross contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods.
- Thoroughly check the cooking instructions on raw meat such as turkey to ensure they are fully defrosted – this can take several days in the fridge for a large turkey.
- Avoid washing raw turkey – this can increase the spread of germs by splashing them on to your clothes, hands, utensils and worktops.
- Work out the cooking time for items such as turkeys – ensure that the meat is steaming hot, that no pink meat is visible and that juices run clear.
Cllr Bob Kelly, Cumberland Council Executive Member and portfolio holder for Licensing and Regulatory Services, said: “Preparing a Christmas dinner can be challenging. In the flurry of getting dinner ready for your loved ones, it is important to plan ahead and allow plenty of time, ensuring that meats are cooked correctly.
“It’s important to remember the four Cs of Food Hygiene when preparing your Christmas meal: Chilling, Cleaning, Cooking, and avoiding Cross-contamination.
“Following this guidance will ensure a festive celebration, without the risk of the unwanted gift of food poisoning”.
For more information on Christmas food safety advice, please visit the Food Standards Agency website.