Food Safety Myths Dispelled

The belief in food safety myths could be putting Northern Ireland consumers at risk of food poisoning, according to a new report.

Food safety myths – like using the ‘sniff test’ to tell whether food is safe – are being dispelled by the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland and safefood to coincide with Food Safety Week, 10 - 16 June.

A new survey has revealed misconceptions regarding food storage, whether or not food is safe to eat and general cooking and cleaning habits.

The Northern Ireland wide survey found that one third of respondents incorrectly believes you can tell whether food is safe by the look or smell.

Half of people incorrectly believe you need to wash poultry before you cook it.

One in ten people are unaware that cooked rice can’t be kept as long as other leftovers.

Dr David McCleery, from safefood said: "The survey confirms that many of us still hold misconceptions on how we should store, prepare and cook our food.

"For example, two thirds of consumers believe that you can tell whether food is safe by its look and smell. This is not the case, as potentially dangerous germs like E. coli and Salmonella don’t always make food smell 'off' and do not affect the appearance of food.

"Instead, we would urge people to stick to the ‘use by’ date and storage instructions on the packet."

A new 'Kitchen Check' tool is providing information on the 'dos and don'ts' in the kitchen.

These include not washing raw meat or poultry, fridge storage tips, advice on best cleaning practices and how to ensure that food is properly cooked.

Debbie Sharpe from the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland said: "The survey results show that most of us are aware of good hygiene in the kitchen, but can still fall foul of some common misconceptions around food safety.

"For example, two thirds of consumers believe you need to wash poultry before you cook it. This is a myth and by doing so consumers risk spreading harmful bacteria around their kitchen.

"The Kitchen Check tool aims to dispel the confusion by helping to reassure the consumer that they are handling and preparing foods at home safely by replacing myths with facts."

(IT/MH)