Experts reiterate Christmas food hygiene message
Consumers should remember the importance of food hygiene and safety over the Christmas period, as nothing is likely to dampen festive spirit more than a bout of food poisoning.The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has teamed up with Channel 4 to sponsor its Christmas recipe web pages, in the hopes that a wide audience of people will learn the importance of food hygiene when preparing their festive diet plans.
Bob Martin, food safety expert at the FSA, pointed out that many people are unused to cooking for large numbers of people, which means preparing Christmas dinner can be a challenge and mistakes can easily be made.
"One of the main rules to remember is to avoid cross-contamination from raw meat or poultry on to other foods," he advised.
"Keep all raw food, whether it's your turkey or vegetables, separate from ready-to-eat foods. Always wash your hands before and after handling food, but don't wash your turkey, as that will only spread germs."
Mr Martin revealed that around one million people contract food poisoning each year in the UK, but that these simple steps can help to protect families at Christmastime.
Previous research by the FSA, conducted in 2007, revealed that 80 per cent of people wash their turkeys before placing them in the oven, despite the significantly increased risk of food poisoning due to bacteria splashing onto worktops, chopping boards and utensils.
