PICNIC SAFELY

Avoid food poisoning this summer with these top tips from The Food Standards Agency.

- By LISA SALMON

WHEN warm days arrive in the UK many people’s thoughts turn to summer pursuits - and what can be more summery than a picnic in the sunshine?

But if you're thinking of taking the chance to dine al fresco, it shouldn't be a case of just shoving some sandwiches in a picnic hamper (or a plastic bag) and heading for the hills, as taking food out into the heat means it’s more likely to attract bugs which can make you ill.

Indeed, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) estimates around 2.4 million cases of foodborne illness occur every year in the UK.

Here are top tips for a safe picnic this summer...

1. Maintain good hand hygiene

Not washing hands before handling or eating food can cause harmful bacteria to spread, warns Narriman Looch, head of food hygiene and food-borne disease control at the FSA. “Wash your hands before preparing your picnic and, where possible, before eating it,” she advises.

“If it’s not possible to wash your hands at your picnic site, you can use hand sanitising wipes or gels to disinfect them. Using hand sanitiser kills most bacteria.”