A food safety campaign, which is urging people not to wash raw chicken, has been backed by local councils.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and West Dorset District Council will be supporting Food Safety Week 2014, which runs from 16-22 June.
This year the message of Food Safety Week, which is run by the Food Standards Agency, is ‘do not wash raw chicken’, as it can spread campylobacter poisoning.
Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK. Washing raw chicken can lead to it being splashed onto work surfaces, other food, your skin, clothing and cooking equipment.
Campylobacter poisoning usually develops a few days after consuming contaminated food and leads to symptoms that include abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea and, sometimes, vomiting.
Campylobacter infections can last up to 10 days, although the typical symptoms last between two and five days. Campylobacter infection can be particularly severe in small children and adults over 60. Thorough cooking kills campylobacter.
Mike Goodman, Community Safety Briefholder at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “Research from the Food Standards Agency shows that more than half of people wash raw chicken at least some of the time. This can lead to food poisoning so it is important we try and get the message out that raw chicken should not be washed.”
Robert Gould, Leader of West Dorset District Council, said: “I am glad we can support this campaign and raise awareness of the fact that raw chicken should not be washed as it can cause food poisoning.”
In addition to circulating the campaign to the local media, it will also be featured on the Dorset Newsroom at www.dorsetforyou.com/news and messages will be sent out on social media.
For more information about the Food Standards Agency’s campaign visit: www.food.gov.uk/chicken
For more details about food hygiene and safety in Dorset visit www.dorsetforyou.com/environmental-health/food
