The Mancunian Way: 'Not fit for human consumption'

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If you’re going to serve up raw chicken ‘not fit for human consumption’, it’s probably best not to do it in a room full of people who work in the health and safety industry. But that’s exactly what happened at Old Trafford in an embarrassing episode which made headlines around the world last month.

Now politics writer Joseph Timan has used a freedom of information request to get hold of the council report into the cock-up, which saw Manchester United’s food hygiene rating downgraded to one out of five.

If you’re of a squeamish nature it’s probably best to look away now. The report said around 300 pieces of chicken were prepared for lunch during the North West Safety Health Environment Show, but only three trays - each of which had around 15 pieces of chicken - were probed to check they were cooked properly.

That meant most of the meat - 17 trays, containing around 255 pieces of chicken - was not checked and the temperature was not recorded as required before they were served. Thirty people drew the short straw and were served raw chicken, putting them ‘at risk of consuming campylobacter and/or salmonella’.

Eight complaints were made and food hygiene inspectors were sent to the club three days later. The following month, the Food Standards Agency announced that 'major improvement' was needed.

Some commentators have said the kitchen nightmare is indicative of a wider culture of decline at Old Trafford. And with United’s problems on the pitch continuing, it’s yet another thing incoming new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has