Yahoo News Government warns Christmas cooks NOT to wash raw turkey due to food poisoning fears
Christmas cooks have been urged NOT to wash their turkeys in a bid to avoid households being hit by food poisoning.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), the government department responsible for food related public health, has issued a five-point festive manifesto to help keep Christmas kitchens safe this year.
Shoppers have been urged not to wash their turkeys ahead of cooking from fear of spreading germs and spreading food poisoning – this includes running a hot tap over a bird as it defrosts.
Adam Hardgrave, head of foodborne disease control at the Food Standards Agency, said: “The four Cs of food hygiene: Chilling, Cleaning, Cooking and avoiding Cross-contamination are important throughout the year, but especially at Christmas.
“In the flurry of preparing the Christmas meal, it’s important to plan ahead and allow plenty of time. Remember that an average-sized turkey can take four days to fully thaw in the fridge.
“It is vital to thoroughly cook your turkey so that the meat is steaming hot, there is no pink meat visible, and that the meat juices run clear.
“Cooking a Christmas roast for a large gathering can be a challenge.
“The turkey, or other meat of the meal, should be stored, defrosted and cooked correctly. Likewise, leftovers from Christmas need to be reheated and consumed within specific timeframes in order to avoid food poisoning.”
The FSA estimates there are around 500,000 cases of food poisoning each year and while it is rarely fatal it is deeply unpleasant for the afflicted.
The FSA advice in full:
When Christmas food shopping, take enough bags with you so that you can separate out raw and ready-to-eat foods to avoid cross-contamination.
Check the guidance on your turkey to ensure you have enough time to fully defrost it – it could take as many as 4 days.
Don’t wash raw turkey – it just spreads germs further by splashing them onto your hands, clothes, utensils and worktops.
To work out the cooking time for your bird, read the instructions on the packaging. Check that: the meat is steaming hot throughout, there is no pink meat visible when you cut into the thickest part and meat juices run clear.
Whether you cooked your turkey from frozen or fresh, your turkey leftovers can be used to make a new meal (such as a turkey curry). This new meal can then be frozen, but make sure you only reheat it once.
