Don’t Get Food Poisoning This Bank Holiday Food Standards Agency Warns

An estimated 900,000 people in the South West are risking food poisoning with badly prepared barbecue food this weekend.

According to findings by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) 69 per cent of people in the region worry about getting food poisoning through under cooked barbecue food, but 29 per cent would still risk eating a burger still pink inside.

Astonishingly, 61 per cent admitted they even undercooked their burgers at home in the oven.

Director of Policy at the FSA, Steve Wearne said: “It’s important that people realise that burgers are not like steak. Harmful bacteria can be carried on the surface of cuts of meat. When a rare steak is seared these bacteria are killed, but burger meat is minced so bacteria from the surface of the raw meat gets mixed all the way through the burger. These bacteria can remain alive on the inside, unless the burger is fully cooked through, no matter how good quality and expensive the meat.”

According to survey findings, 29 per cent in the region thought that eating a rare burger was the same as a rare steak when it comes to getting food poisoning.

The FSA is urging everyone getting out their barbecues this weekend to make sure their burgers are cooked until steaming hot throughout with no pink meat in the middle and juices running clear.

For more information on food safety and advice about cooking burgers at home, visit: http://www.food.gov.uk/burgers