Food safety watchdog issues warning over 'unnecessary' Christmas risks

A watchdog has warned households to avoid taking “unnecessary and avoidable risks” over food safety this Christmas - to protect people from getting sick.

The Food Standards Agency has carried out survey which found that 45% of people admitted they would be likely to leave food from the fridge out for hours before eating it over the festive period. Meanwhile, more than a quarter (27%) said they would be likely to store food that should be refrigerated in another cool place, such as a garage or porch, due to a lack of space in the fridge at Christmas.

A little under a quarter (23%) admitted they would be unlikely to ask guests if they had any food allergies or intolerances. Just under a half (46%) said they did not always check use-by dates before cooking or preparing food at home - while 39% admitted they at least occasionally cook raw meat, such as turkey or sausages, past the use-by date.

Meanwhile, a third of those surveyed (33%) said they did not always wash their hands before cooking or making food at home.

Robin May, chief scientific advisor at the FSA, said: “Don’t be a turkey – our new data shows us that people are taking some unnecessary and avoidable risks in the way they cook, prepare and store food. Whether your Christmas meal is a chicken for two or a goose for 22, make sure it is cooked until steaming hot all the way through.

He added: “Although we are talking about this in a light-hearted way, there’s a serious message underlying the data. No one likes being ill over the holidays, especially at a time when friends and family come together, including people who are more vulnerable to food poisoning, such as older relatives or those who are pregnant.

“If you’re cooking for a crowd, there’s lots to think about