BBQ food preparation advice

It’s common to fire up the BBQ in sunny weather. But, it’s important to follow food safety advice.

This helps to avoid contaminating your food and food poisoning.

Do

• follow all instructions on the packaging – some foods can be cooked from frozen, while others need to be defrosted in advance
• defrost meat thoroughly before cooking, ideally in your fridge
• cook food in the oven before finishing on the barbeque to ensure it’s cooked all the way through
• keep meat and ready to eat foods separate – like salad and bread
• turn food regularly to cook it evenly
• use separate utensils for raw and cooked meats
• heat foods until steaming hot before eating
• wash ready to eat salad bags and all foods that can be eaten without peeling

Don’t

• do not use a sauce or marinade for cooked food that’s had raw meat in it
• do not wash uncooked meat
• do not eat hot foods that have been left out in the heat – especially foods like cooked rice, cooked meats, shellfish and dairy products

Avoiding bugs and germs outdoors

The summer months are an opportunity to get out and enjoy outdoor spaces. This can be brilliant for both your physical and mental health. But, be mindful that a small number of people each year are affected by infections caught outdoors.

Do

• wear gloves while gardening, especially if you handle compost, as there can be Legionella bacteria
• wear a mask if you’re working on anything dusty
• wash your hands after doing outdoor activities
• wash your hands thoroughly if you’ve been in contact with farm animals or the environment where they’re kept – like a gate, fence or building
• be aware of when and where you can be bitten by ticks – ticks in Scotland can carry the germ that causes Lyme disease
• take plenty of clean drinking water when you’re outdoors
• use chemical treatments or boil water to make untreated water safe to drink

Don’t

• do not drink untreated water – germs like E.coli can contaminate lochs, rivers and burns and can be harmful if swallowed