Some tips for avoiding food poisoning this summer

From City Scene, published on 3 February, 2008

Warm temperatures and the barbecue season make food infection an increased risk during summer. Good hygiene - including washing your hands, and handling and preparing food correctly - can greatly reduce the threat of food contamination and sickness.

Here are some simple measures you can take to help ensure the safety of your family and friends this summer.

When shopping, leave buying frozen or cold foods until last. Keep raw meat separate from other groceries and take goods home to refrigerate or freeze immediately. Chilly bags or bins are a great way to keep this food cold on the journey home.
Keep readily perishable foods - such as milk and milk products, eggs, meat, poultry, fish and shellfish - cold. These foods spoil quickly and readily support the growth of bacteria.
Defrost meat thoroughly before cooking, ideally in the fridge or in a waterproof bag submerged in cold water. Avoid defrosting meat at room temperature and cook anything defrosted in the microwave straight away. Never re-freeze food.
Keep hot food hot and cold food cold after you serve it. Never leave food out at room temperature for more than two hours, and keep it protected with a clean cover at all times.
Avoid cross-contamination of food, utensils and preparation surfaces by ensuring that you use separate chopping boards and knives for raw and cooked or ready-to-eat foods.
Always wash and dry your hands after handling raw meat.
Always check that you have cooked food properly, especially poultry.
Always check expiry dates on food packaging and avoid extended storage or repeated reheating of leftovers.
Be careful with cooked rice or pasta as it could contain bacteria that can survive cooking and, if kept at room temperature, can multiply to a level that causes food poisoning. Cool it down quickly and keep it cold.

If you plan to eat out, why not visit the website to check the council's food hygiene grading of the restaurant you plan to visit before you leave home. You can search by restaurant name, area or street name.