Eat, drink and be safe

Food & Drink Technology HQ is preparing to down tools for the festive period, but before we go, I wanted to leave you with a timely (Christmas) and topical (food safety) blog.

This year, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched National Defrost Your Turkey Day in the UK, urging people to defrost their turkeys properly. The reminder follows an FSA survey, which revealed that 62 per cent of UK consumers will have turkey on the menu this Christmas, of which 69 per cent are thawing their turkey in unsafe places such as the bath, garage and garden shed – putting themselves and others at risk of food poisoning.

Incorrect thawing provides a way for bacteria like campylobacter – which has been no stranger to headlines this year – to spread.

Kevin Hargin, head of foodborne disease at the FSA, says, “We all love our turkey dinner at Christmas and this year should be no exception. It’s the little things you do that can make a real difference. So if you make sure that your turkey is defrosted safely and in good time, you can enjoy your meal happily and safely.”

So, with a large 11kg turkey taking up to two days to defrost, it’s that time already!

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all of our readers.