When preparing and cooking food in the busy Christmas rush, particularly when entertaining friends at home, it can be easy to forget food hygiene - do not get food poisoning!

Safe Christmas Food

More than one in ten of us cook Christmas dinner for more than ten people. Catering safely for large numbers can be a challenge.

With so much food to prepare, some is often served warm when it should be chilled, or too cool when it should be piping hot.

To help you fully enjoy your festive food, check our simple guidelines to ensure the food you cook is safe.

You can download the advice in a PDF format information sheet below, produced by the council's Environmental Health service.

Turkeys - Do not Serve Up Food Poisoning

The Food Standards Agency Eatwell website has lots of advice on healthy eating and food safety at Christmas.

Do not serve up food poisoning this Christmas. 20% of all food poisoning cases are related to poultry, with most cases occuring during December.

Go to the Safer Christmas Eating page on the Eatwell website for advice on safely defrosting, preparing and cooking your Christmas turkey and keeping leftovers safe.

Eatwell's safety tips include advice to not wash your turkey or chicken before cooking, because bacteria can splash onto worktops, dishes and other foods and significantly increase the chance of food poisoning. Proper cooking will kill any bacteria, so you do not need to wash poultry.

After looking at the Eatwell website and our leaflet to download below, if you have still got a question, you can send it to Eatwell by Turkeymail - turkeymail@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

Listen to Radio Adverts Online

You can listen online to Eatwell 30-second radio ads by celebrity chefs Ainsley Harriott and Gary Rhodes, who talk you through some of those classic Christmas recipes for disaster.

They warn you not to serve up food poisoning this Christmas by eating undercooked turkey or spreading harmful bacteria around the kitchen by washing raw turkey.

The Food Standards Agency ads are being broadcast on local radio stations in the run-up to Christmas.

Turkey Berserkey Game

The Eatwell website also has a special Christmas game - Turkey Berserkey!

A rogue turkey has broken into the house and is threatening to cause havoc and spoil your festive celebrations. Arm yourself with whatever is to hand to teach the pesky poultry a lesson or two. Pit your wits against the cheeky chappy by playing the game.