Have a safe and healthy Christmas!

12th November 2015

... Comments

The last thing you want during the festive period is food poisoning, so don't let the stuffing be knocked out of you this year and follow these food safety tips.

Ensure that you wash your hands, cooking utensils and food surfaces often. Use hot, soapy water to wash utensils, cutting boards and any other surfaces you use.
Keep raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods when shopping, preparing food and storing food. Keep raw meat, poultry, fish and shellfish away from any other foods, as this will prevent cross-contamination.
Cook foods to a safe temperature. The best way to tell if foods are cooked to a safe temperature is to use a food thermometer. Cooking food to the right temperature will kill harmful organisms in most food.
Refrigerate or freeze perishable foods promptly within two hours of purchasing or preparing them.
Defrost food safely. Do not thaw food at room temperature - the safest way to defrost food is in the refrigerator. If you use a microwave to defrost frozen food, use the 'defrost' or '50 percent power' setting, and be sure to cook immediately.
If in doubt, throw it out. If you're unsure a food has been prepared, served or stored safely, don't risk it and discard of it appropriately. Food left at room temperature too long may contain bacteria or toxins that can't be destroyed by cooking.

Food poisoning can be serious if you are not careful, and potentially life-threatening for young children, pregnant women and their foetuses, older adults and those with weakened immune systems.

Be safe this Christmas, and ensure that you are cooking your food thoroughly.

About the Author