Tackling the most common form of food poisoning is the theme of this year’s Food Safety Week running between 16 to 22 June across the Falkirk Council area.
Affecting around 280,000 people across the UK every year, the Campylobacter bacteria can cause severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sometimes vomiting. In extreme cases, it can even be fatal.
One way that the bacteria are spread is by washing raw chicken. This results in the bacteria splashing onto your hands, work surfaces, sinks, taps and anything else in the vicinity of your sink. The bacteria can then be passed onto the foods which are ready to eat. Only a small number of Campylobacter are required to cause the illness.
Environmental Health Officers stress a few simple rules to follow to minimise the risk of food poisoning:
- Cover raw chicken and store it at the bottom of your fridge so that the juices cannot contaminate other food;
- Keep your fridge below 5oC;
- Avoid washing raw chicken;
- Thoroughly wash your hands after preparing raw chicken;
- Thoroughly wash the chopping board and utensils after using them for raw chicken, ideally have a different board and knife;
- Cook your chicken until the juices run clear and there is no pink meat.
Councillor Dr Craig Martin, spokesperson for the Environment said: “With a few simple precautions you can stay safe from a nasty infection that particularly affects the young and the elderly.
“You cannot see, taste or smell food poisoning bacteria but they can cause some very serious symptoms.
“We’d urge you to find out more at www.food.gov.uk.”
Consumers are being urged to look out for information leaflets in their local butchers.
Environmental Health staff will be at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert between Monday 16th June and Wednesday 18th June at an information stand with free giveaways such as food thermometers and shopping bags, and lots of great prizes in their free food safety related tombola.