Having a Bank Holiday barbecue?

People thinking of breaking out the barbecue are being reminded to put food safety at the top of their shopping list.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s environmental health team is offering people helpful advice to ensure food poisoning stays off the menu.

Simple tips include pre-cooking food in a conventional oven before lighting the barbecue, which can then be used to give the food its distinctive smoky flavour.

It’s also important to avoid cross-contamination by storing raw meat separately before cooking, using different utensils, plates and chopping boards for raw and cooked food, and washing hands thoroughly before and after handling raw foods including meat, fish, eggs and vegetables. Never wash raw chicken or other meat, which can cause bacteria to splash on to other foods or preparation surfaces.

When cooking, remember that disposable barbecues take longer, to move the food around the barbecue and turn frequently to ensure even cooking, and cut open meet to ensure it is cooked through.

Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure you protect your friends and family from food poisoning, and our environmental health team and the Food Standards Agency have produced a handy guide which should ensure everyone stays safe, not sick.”

People are also being reminded to take care with used barbecues, particularly disposable ones. Charcoal can stay hot for a long time, even if it looks like the heat has gone. Never take a used barbecue into an enclosed space, like a tent, as this may cause fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

For further information, visit https://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/campaigns/barbecue