News

Council urges people to take care when cooking at home

Released on 04 June 2010

As part of Food Safety Week 2010, environmental health officers at Surrey Heath Borough Council are reminding residents about good food hygiene when cooking in the home.

This year's Food Safety Week is being held from 7-13 June and will highlight the importance of cooking thoroughly and avoiding cross-contamination. It will also focus on Campylobacter, a bacterium which can cause food poisoning.

Campylobacter causes the greatest number of cases of food borne illness in the UK every year. In 2008 there were about 55,000 reported cases in the UK, but the Food Standards Agency believe it's closer to 375,000 cases as many go unreported.

The council's key messages for the week are:

• wash hands thoroughly before handling food to prevent food poisoning. Also wash them between handling raw and cooked foods
• never use the same chopping board for raw meat and ready-to-eat food
• chilled food should be taken out the fridge and used immediately - don't leave it at room temperature as harmful bacteria may grow
• always check that meats, especially processed meats such as sausages and burgers are not pink in the middle and that any juices run clear

With the weather set to improve over the next few weeks Surrey Heath residents are being urged to take extra care when cooking on the barbecue.

Surrey Heath's portfolio holder for community Cllr Vivienne Chapman
said:

"Food poisoning is an unpleasant and potentially serious illness especially in the very young and the elderly. By following advice on safe food handling both in the kitchen and when barbecuing you can ensure that the food you serve is safe to eat".

View more advice on food safety