2016-04

Top advice on how to eat safely
A
survey has shown that UK
consumers are putting their
health at risk when cooking at
home. More than 80 per cent
of those asked admitted to one
or more habits that put them at risk of
food poisoning, including one in three
admitting they would eat food that has
been dropped on the floor.
The survey also revealed that one
in three people don’t check ‘use by’
dates, with 85 per cent of them instead
using the ‘sniff test’ and 68 per cent just
checking the colour – even though this
will not always reveal whether food is
safe to eat. Unlike ‘best before’ dates,
‘use by’ dates relate to safety and are
based on scientific testing, yet more
than 40 per cent of those questioned
said they would eat food after its ‘use
by’ date.
Follow these top tips to keep your
home free from the risk of food
poisoning:
1. Don’t wash your chicken. Washing
raw chicken is unnecessary and can
spread germs. Harmful bacteria can
easily splash from raw meat and
poultry onto worktops, chopping
boards, dishes and utensils.
Germs that cause food
poisoning can also linger
for days in the sink.
2. Make sure your meat
is cooked thoroughly.
Check your meat is
steaming hot all the way
through. Cut into the
thickest part of meat to
check that none of it is pink
and ensure that the juices
which run out are clear.
3. Use your leftovers safely. We all
hate to waste food, so if you’ve stored
cooked food in the fridge, eat it within
two days. Always adhere to use by dates
on food.
4. Keep it clean. Always wash and dry
your hands thoroughly before preparing
food and after handling raw meat or
poultry. Make sure your worktops and
utensils are clean and disinfected.
5. Be fridge friendly. Check your fridge
is at the right temperature – below 5°C –
to stop germs from growing. Don’t pack
the food too tightly as the cold air needs
to circulate to cool your food.
6. Avoid cross-contamination. Use
different chopping board and knives for
raw meat and foods that are ready-toeat,
like cooked meats, salads and raw
vegetables, and ensure they are cleaned
between each use. This will help to
stop germs spreading. Keep your raw
meats on the bottom shelf of the fridge,
separate from other foods.
7. Food safety is not just about raw
meat. Remember that it’s important
to peel your vegetables as necessary,
because soil can sometimes carry
harmful bacteria. Washing with rubbing
and movement will help to remove
bacteria from the surface of fruit and
vegetables.
If you want to know more about
food safety and also gain a useful
qualification, book onto one of our
food hygiene courses. Contact Health
Protection Service on Tel 0114 2734415,
look on our website www.sheffield.
gov.uk, or email healthprotection@
sheffield.gov.uk
And of course we all like a treat,
whether it’s a romantic meal for two
or a big family outing to celebrate
a birthday, why not check out the
hygiene standards before you book.
To see what score your favourite
restaurant has achieved, look at
www.food.gov.uk/ratings.
Dawn Terry
Environmental Health Officer
Sheffield City Council
Anderson Tree Services
Telephone: 0114 274 9101
Email: thujopsis@aol.com
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