Make sure your turkey doesn’t end up down the toilet this Christmas
Written by author on December 18, 2013
As the festive period approaches everyone will be thinking of Xmas dinner.
Whether it’s with family or with friends, NHS Director of Public Health, Dr Linda de Caestecker, is encouraging people to follow a few simple tips to ensure their Xmas fare doesn’t result in anyone getting food poisoning.
Dr de Caestecker says Xmas day should be fun for everyone, including those tasked with cooking the traditional turkey. However, often, by not following a few simple rules, people end up getting ill with food poisoning after the event.
She added: “What we want to reiterate is that by making sure food is thoroughly defrosted and cooked the necessary time everyone stays healthy and happy.
“If people ensure they have properly defrosted and cooked their food there will be no need to worry about sickness and diarrhoea a few days later. Most people with food poisoning will get better without the need for treatment but occasionally, food poisoning can have more serious effects on a person’s health, particularly if they are vulnerable to the effects of an infection.
“We want everyone to have an enjoyable Xmas and a healthy start to 2014.”
A Few Simple Tips for Cooking the Xmas Meal:
• Defrost frozen meats thoroughly in the fridge for 24 hours before cooking
• Always wash hands thoroughly before preparing food, touching raw meat and before eating
• Do not use the same utensils for raw and cooked foods
• Do not assume the meat is cooked all the way through just because the outside surface looks well charred
