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Christmas message from Environmental Health

As a major contribution to food poisoning is unsafe practices in the home, the Vale of Glamorgan Council's environmental health division is warning in the run up to Christmas.

Forgetting basic hygiene rules could leave people suffering from unpleasant symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps and result in a miserable Christmas and New Year.

With most people sitting down to turkey, chicken, duck or goose this Christmas, individuals are reminded to follow the Poultry Code:

• keep a frozen bird in the freezer and do not defrost until required; do not re-freeze once thawed
• buy fresh birds as close to Christmas as possible and refrigerate until needed
• completely defrost a frozen bird in the fridge or at room temperature away from other food
• poultry is ready for cooking when the body is pliable, the legs flexible and body cavity free from ice crystals
• remove the giblets
• avoid filling the body cavity with stuffing but cook the stuffing separately; stuffing increases the weight of the bird and cooking times should be adjusted accordingly
• use a meat thermometer to make sure the centre of the bird reaches 75°C to kill any bacteria; check it’s cooked by ensuring all juices run clear
• eat as soon as possible after cooking, and handle as little as possible
• cover and cool all remaining meat, stock and trimmings as quickly as possible and store in the refrigerator within one to two hours, and
• ensure, if reheating the bird and using leftovers, these are heated thoroughly and the temperature reaches at least 75°C.

As a guide, the following table provides information regarding thawing and cooking times:

You can also access the Food Standards Agency website www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/seasonsandcelebrations/winter/saferchristmaseating/  where you can input information about your turkey and get personalised defrosting and cooking times.

Remember – clean all work surfaces and equipment when preparing the raw bird otherwise the cooked bird can pick up food poisoning organisms from contaminated surfaces. Hands must also be washed thoroughly after dealing with the raw bird.

Follow these basic rules and everyone should have a happy and healthy Christmas, say environmental health.

Keep food safe

The festive season always encourages people to stock up on Christmas goodies. Fresh food is normally preferable but make sure it is stored safely.

• if your fridge is not cold enough, harmful bacteria can grow and cause food poisoning
• keep the coldest part of your fridge between 0°C and 5°C; use a fridge thermometer and check the temperature regularly
• keep the most perishable foods, for example, those with a short shelf life such as cooked meats, in the coldest part of the fridge
• take chilled and frozen food home quickly – then put into the fridge or freezer at once
• wrap or cover all raw or uncooked foods so that they can’t touch or drip onto other foods and contaminate them – keep raw meat and fish at the bottom of the fridge
• don’t overload the fridge
• don’t put hot food in the fridge – let it cool first
• don’t keep food beyond its ‘use-by’ date, and
• don’t keep the fridge door open

For further information, contact environmental health (commercial team) on 01446 709105.

Peace on earth

People holding parties and get-togethers are asked to ensure their rejoicing does not create a nightmare for neighbours.

Simple rules to being a considerate neighbour are:

• site noisy household equipment, such as music systems away from partition walls;
• try to isolate speakers from the floor or near partition walls – the use of a decent speaker stand or carpet or underlay under them may deaden the sound
• keep your windows and doors closed as the evening progresses
• if you are having a party, tell your neighbours in advance – they may even pop around to enjoy the Christmas spirit
• keep noise to a minimum as much as possible - not everyone enjoys hearing ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ in the early hours so turn the volume down, and
• ask your guests to keep the noise to a minimum when leaving

Noisy neighbours do not have the right to destroy other people’s enjoyment of their homes, causing distress, loss of sleep or even illness, say environmental health. 

For further information, contact environmental health (pollution control) on 01446 709105

Dogs

Vale dog wardens warn that the novelty of dogs and other small animals bought as Christmas presents can soon wear off and the pets often end up unwanted, unloved and abandoned. No-one should ever be given a pet, especially a puppy, unless they are prepared to give the commitment to care.

People are reminded to:

• consider the costs involved for the person, for example, food, toys, veterinary care, etc
• consider whether the person has enough time to adequately care for the new pet, especially puppies who need constant care and attention, and lots of love
• make sure you don’t unwittingly support the cruel practice of puppy farming; choose your puppy from a licensed breeder or a small-scale local breeder, or why not give a home to a dog from your local re-homing centre
• remember that the gift of a living breathing creature with a life expectancy of 12 plus years might not always be a good idea
• not assume that friends or family want a pet because they may have talked of previous pets they have owned, or gushed over a cute pet seen elsewhere
• remember that Christmas morning with its excitement, people coming and going, dinner to cook and relatives to visit is hardly the right atmosphere for a new pet, especially a puppy

For further information, please contact environmental health (dog wardens) on 01446 709105.

20/12/2007