Cold Turkey?

Turkey curry, turkey sandwiches or turkey curry? Are you wondering what to do with your leftover turkey this Christmas? The Food Standards Agency has launched a new 'viral' marketing campaign, which raises awareness to the dangers of eating week-old turkey and gives tips to protect people in the UK from festive food poisoning.

‘We all hate to waste food, but by eating week-old turkey from the fridge, you could be asking for trouble.’

A survey carried out by the Agency has shown that one in five of us will risk food poisoning this year by eating old turkey leftovers this Christmas, and some will still be tucking into the turkey sandwiches as the New Year rolls in.

The new 60-second video aims to raise awareness of bad food hygiene and give some key advice on the safe handling of Christmas leftovers. The shocking but amusing film features a family that hasn’t been following the Agency’s advice on food hygiene. Diarrhoea might be the Christmas gift that keeps on giving, but do you really want to give it to your family?

Judith Hilton, Head of Microbiological Safety, Food Standards Agency, said: 'We all hate to waste food, but by eating week-old turkey from the fridge, you could be asking for trouble. For the very young, elderly or those with serious illness, it could be fatal. There are better ways of eating and storing leftover turkey, which won't expose you to festive food poisoning.'

The Agency advises leftovers should be:

  • cooled as quickly as possible (within one to two hours) and kept in the fridge
  • reheated only once, until piping hot
  • eaten within two days


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