18/05/2015 - Permalink

Reduce food poisoning by taking the Chicken Challenge

Related topics: Community / Health

280,000 cases of food poisoning every year can be traced to bacteria most commonly found in raw chicken, according to figures from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The germ, known as campylobacter, has no scent, taste and cannot be seen by the naked eye, but can cause paralysis or even death if contaminated food is consumed.

In a report from the European Food Safety Authority, it is estimated that between 50% to 80% of cases of food poisoning traced to campylobacter stems from contaminated chicken, something three quarters of us eat at least once a week.

The FSA would like to see the numbers of cases reduced by the end of this year, and is pushing for greater awareness of how to avoid falling ill due to food poisoning.

The FSA has launched the Chicken Challenge in Food Safety Week (Monday 18 May – Sunday 24 May 2015) to promote simple ways to avoid campylobacter and keep everyone safe while enjoying their chicken dinners, while being in with a chance to win prizes as well.

The FSA is asking you to step up to the plate and:

  • 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, steaming hot and the juices run clear

Launching the challenge, Nina Purcell, FSA Director, said:

“It’s clear that we all love chicken, we just need to take the time and be even more committed to ensuring we do the little things in the kitchen to keep our loved ones safe.”

Mal Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for public protection, embraced the challenge, saying:

“By following the simple steps from the FSA when storing, preparing and cooking chicken, we can help dramatically reduce the cases of food poisoning.”

Campylobacter food poisoning usually develops a few days after eating contaminated food and leads to symptoms that include abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea and, sometimes, vomiting.

Some can have lasting effects for example irritable bowel syndrome, reactive arthritis and, in rare cases, Guillain-Barré syndrome – a serious condition of the nervous system.

To take the pledge and the chance to win some amazing prizes visit www.food.gov.uk/chickenchallenge

For more information, you can email food@shropshire.gov.uk and search for “Shropshire Food Safety” on Facebook.