Recipe for disaster
Monday 17 December 2007
Don't serve up food poisoning this Christmas
Ref: WA49/07CK
80% of people in the UK wash their turkeys before cooking them, significantly increasing the risk of food poisoning, according to a new survey carried out for the Food Standards Agency.
The survey, which looked into the eating habits of UK consumers at Christmas, found that women aged 45–54 were the most frequent turkey-washing offenders. In Wales the figure was lower, with 65% likely to run their raw turkeys under the tap.
The Agency warns against washing meat because harmful bacteria can easily splash from raw meat and poultry to worktops, chopping boards, dishes and utensils. Germs that cause food poisoning can also linger for days.
Judith Hilton, Head of Microbiological Safety at the Food Standards Agency, said: 'Most people think they know how to prepare the Christmas meal with their eyes shut. But we’ve found that there are still a couple of Christmas food safety clangers served up each year. Turkey washing seems to be the most common blunder.
Remember, it’s not possible to wash off all the germs that cause food poisoning with water. They’re killed by heat. By washing your raw turkey, you’re actually more likely to spread the germs than get rid of them.'
Whilst cooks in Wales may be more aware that they shouldn’t wash their turkey, they aren’t so clued up on how to tell if the bird is cooked. Around 27% of people in Wales aren’t sure, compared with 17% in the whole of the UK. Although formal reported incidents are fairly low, 2% of people in the UK think they have suffered from festive food poisoning in the past 5 years.
To ensure that your turkey is cooked properly, make sure it is piping hot all the way through, cut into the thickest part to check that none of the meat is pink, and if juices run out they should be clear.
Celebrity chefs Gary Rhodes, Ainsley Harriott and Dudley Newbery are featuring in the Agency’s radio adverts this year to help people avoid serving up food poisoning this Christmas.
For more information on how to prepare your Christmas dinner safely, log on to www.eatwell.gov.uk at the link below, or email the Agency's turkey experts at turkeymail@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.
Notes for editors
The Food Standards Agency is an independent Government department set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.
2,148 people took part in the UK wide survey ran by TNS CAPI Omnibus.
The best way to avoid food poisoning is to follow the 4 Cs: Cooking, Chilling, Cleaning and avoiding Cross-contamination. More information can be found on the FSA website: www.food.gov.uk
On average, people in Wales eat their Christmas dinner with 6 to 7 other people
Men are more likely to carve, serve the drinks or relax while women are still the most likely to cook
71% of the those interviewed in Wales plan to sit down to turkey, with about 51% buying fresh turkey, and just 31% buying a frozen one.
This year in the UK we're likely to eat:
- 15,000 tonnes of Brussels sprouts, equivalent in weight to 37 jumbo jets
- 19,000 tonnes of turkey (£10 million worth of turkeys) – weighing the same as 1,600 school buses
- 120,000 tonnes of potatoes – the same weight as 34,000 Asian elephants
- 7.5 million carrots – roughly the population of Bulgaria
The Food Standards Agency radio adverts featuring celebrity chefs Gary Rhodes, Dudley Newbery and Ainsley Harriott will run from 19-25 December
For interview bids please contact the press office on 029 2067 8916.
Information sources include:
- Mintel Report into Christmas Food 2006
- Files.Recycleworks.co.uk
- British Retail Consortium
More advice from our eatwell website
11th Floor, Southgate House,
Wood Street,
Cardiff CF10 1EW
Telephone: 02920 678916
Fax: 02920 678918/9
Email: caroline.kitson@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk