The onset of summer is not all good news and may have led to an increase in cases of potentially fatal E coli 0157 infection, NHS Tayside has warned.
Although stressing the numbers are small, the health authority said it has been notified of a higher than usual number of people becoming ill due to the infection.
NHS Tayside said this is probably due to the warmer weather in recent weeks resulting in more barbecues, with the added problems associated with outdoor cooking.
Dr Kirsty Licence, consultant in public health medicine at NHS Tayside, said: “Although the total number of cases remains small, we are investigating this in line with normal procedures, as we would for all cases of E coli 0157.”
Dr Licence points out that the main issue with E coli 0157 is the chronic long term conditions it can cause.
She said: “E coli can be found on raw meat. Therefore it is important to maintain good hand hygiene, to be careful when handling raw meat and to cook meat thoroughly.
“Barbecues carry a higher risk because of the possibility of cross-contamination between raw and cooked meat.
“When people cook indoors, the availability of hand-washing facilities means people are much more likely to wash their hands while preparing or handling food.
“Outdoors, especially when handling raw meat or chicken, it’s much easier to simply wipe your hands on an apron or a towel, which means germs are more easily spread.
“We would encourage the public to follow these food safety tips:
* Wash your hands before preparing any food and especially between handling raw and cooked meat.
* Raw and cooked foods should be kept apart to avoid cross-contamination of bacteria from raw meat. Don’t allow cooked food to make contact with hands, chopping boards, knives or tongs which have touched raw food.
* Always ensure that meat is cooked throughout, none of the meat is pink and the juices run clear. This is especially important for chicken, burgers, sausages and kebabs.
* If barbecuing, food should be kept in the fridge or cool bag until it is ready to go on the barbecue and serving bowls should always be covered to protect from dirt and insects.
* If you’re barbecuing for lots of people, you could cook meat indoors and finish it off on the barbecue.
* When you reheat food on the barbecue, make sure it is piping hot.