Hotel health and safety watchdog Check Safety First has issued advice to Yuletide holidaymakers about how to make sure stomach upsets do not ruin their festive fun.
The company says the 2.5 million Brits who will head abroad this Christmas swapping the UK for the ski slopes or a far flung beach should be aware of potential food safety issues.
Chief executive of Check Safety First Mark Harrington said: “There is nothing better than getting away for Christmas and leaving the stress of home behind but handing over responsibility to a hotel or restaurant for cooking that celebratory meal can come with its risks.
“It’s imperative that holidaymakers, especially families with young children, are extra cautious when that exotic Christmas dinner is served and ensure that it’s fully cooked.
It’s very important to remember that the establishment you’re staying or dining in should exceed the high hygiene standards you set for yourself back home.”
Checksafetyfirst.com has published some basic but crucial advice for this years Christmas jet setters.
- Clean, Clean, Clean – Look around, if the dining area looks dirty, poorly maintained, has rubbish lying around or has evidence of pests then the areas you cannot see will be much worse. If one of those areas is the kitchen then it will significantly increase the chances of you becoming ill through food poisoning.
- Cooked food – Do not accept undercooked foods. Cooking is one of the main methods of killing off harmful bacteria that may be present in food and if this is not done properly there is a risk that you could become seriously ill.
- Hot not warm – Temperature control is fundamental in preventing food poisoning bacteria from multiplying. Hot food must be hot to avoid the optimal growth range for bacteria which are normally kept to an absolute minimum at higher temperatures. So if hot food comes to you warm send it back.
Check Safety First has devised the online E-Cristal health and safety auditing facility and benchmarking system for hoteliers that allows manager to check on standards in their hotel chains and chase up identified improvements that are outstanding.