JOIN the “Chicken Challenge” – and let’s halve Campylobacter food poisoning – that is the message Warrington Borough Council is spreading for Food Safety Week, which starts today.
The council is backing the national campaign from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) which is raising awareness of the dangers eating chicken.
Chicken can cause food poisoning. The FSA estimate that about 280,000 cases of food poisoning a year can be traced to Campylobacter – a germ found mostly on raw chicken.
You can’t see it, smell it or even taste it on food, but if it affects you. You won’t forget it because at its worst, Campylobacter can kill or paralyse you.
The FSA wants to cut the number of cases of Campylobacter poisoning in half by the end of the year. It could mean more than 100,000 fewer people would get sick next year.
The council and FSA are asking you to step up to the plate and promise to:
*Bag and store raw chicken separately from other food, covered and chilled on the bottom shelf of the fridge
*Not to wash raw chicken as it splashes germs
*Wash everything that’s touched raw chicken in soap and hot water – your hands and utensils
*Check chicken is cooked properly – no pink meat, the meat should be steaming hot and the juices run clear
Peter Astley (pictured), assistant director for regulation and protection, said: “I’ve suffered from campylobacter food poisoning myself and know how nasty it can be, so I’m keen to support this message. If everyone does their bit including industry and consumers then less people could get sick. Pledging to take the challenge and to do at least one thing to
help keep us safe and healthy will make a huge difference in helping achieve this goal.”
To take the pledge and the chance to win some amazing prizes visit
www.food.gov.uk/chickenchallenge
Council backs food safety campaign
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