Households warned over festive food safety after finding 'risks' being taken
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The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning households to take care this Christmas after discovering "unnecessary and avoidable risks" being taken with festive food. Some 45% of people are playing "buffet roulette" confessing they'd likely leave fridge food out for hours before tucking in.
More than a quarter (27%) admitted they might resort to stashing refrigerated items in alternative cool spots like garages or porches due to the fridge overflow during the holiday season. Just under a quarter (23%) said they would be unlikely to ask if their guests have any food allergies or intolerances.
The FSA's survey also revealed that almost half (46%) don't consistently check use-by dates before whipping up meals, and 39% would sometimes cook raw meat beyond its expiration date. A third (33%) confessed to not always washing hands before meal prep.
Robin May, the FSA's chief scientific advisor, cautioned: "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.".
"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.".
