If you are planning to enjoy summer parties or barbecues, here are some simple good advice from the council's Environmental Health service.
This advice can also be downloaded as a leaflet in PDF format below.
We all enjoy them, but they do have their own special hazards!
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It is very tempting to get started but wait until the charcoal has a powdery grey surface before you start to cook
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Make sure meat pieces are thawed before you cook them (not necessary for burgers)
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Turn the food regularly and move it around the BBQ to cook it evenly
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Check that food is piping hot all the way through. There should be no pinkness in the middle and juices should be running clear
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If you're cooking chicken on the bone or thick pieces of meat, give them an initial cook in the oven and finish them off on the BBQ, it's much safer
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Although it may look and smell delicious never add the marinade you have used for the raw meat, to the meat after cooking
For more advice go to the leaflet Beat the Barbecue Bugs on the Food Standards Agency website using the link from this page, available to download in English or other languages - Bengali, Chinese, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Turkish and Urdu.
