Dear All,

Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service is supporting ‘SafeFoodHacks’, a campaign to provide consumers with advice on how to make food go further, without compromising on safety.

Launched by the Food Standards Agency, the campaign is a response to a growing number of people who are saying they are taking food safety risks because of money pressures and rising energy costs.

Some examples of these safety risks include:

•      32% of participants reported that they had eaten food past its use-by date, at least once in the past month, because they couldn’t afford to buy more food.
•      18% of participants turned off a fridge and/or freezer containing food, at least once in the last month, to reduce energy bills and save money.

Please support this campaign by promoting the following ‘SafeFoodHacks’ on websites, in emails, on social media, and in newsletters. Thank you for your support.

#SafeFoodHacks

Search #SafeFoodHacks and #SmartFoodSafety on social media and follow the guidance below.

Make the most of your weekly shop  🛒

Bulk buy food, separate it into portions and freeze.

Here are some of the Food Standards Agency’s top #SafeFoodHacks:

•      Check the guidance on food packaging for defrosting times.
•      Ensure your freezer is operating at a temperature of at least –18°C
•      Place food in air-tight containers or wrap it well in freezer bags. Extra tip: label with the date and contents to avoid UFOs (Unidentified Frozen Objects)! 🛸
•      Once defrosted, cook and eat within 24 hours. Always defrost in the fridge with a container underneath to catch any drips or at the bottom of fridge.

Cooking meat in your new air fryer? 🤔

Not all food packaging has air fryer instructions, but the Food Standards Agency’s cooking advice still stands:

•      Preheat the air fryer to the correct temperature. Refer to the instructions for your appliance for cooking advice on specific foods
•      Different foods can be cooked together in the air fryer, but they may require different times and temperatures
•      Avoid overcrowding foods in the air fryer to allow adequate air circulation to ensure thorough cooking
•      Check your food is steaming hot all the way through
•      If you’re cooking pork, minced meat, sausages, or poultry, cut the thickest part of the meat to check none is pink and juices run clear

Check your fridge temperature

Check your fridge temperature is 5°C or below so it will preserve foods for longer. It will also save you money by reducing food waste. 🌡️

This temperature stops food from spoiling by preventing harmful bacteria from growing.

How do you like to cook?

Slow cooker, air fryer, microwave, oven…whether you’re trying to be more efficient, keep it safe and hygienic with the Food Standards Agency’s #SafeFoodHacks:

•      Check cooking times and temperatures before you start.
•      Use separate utensils for raw and cooked food.
•      Clean any washable parts in warm, soapy water.
•      Make sure food is steaming hot and cooked all the way through

Microwave leftovers

Weekly budget isn’t going as far? Why not store and reheat food for another night. Here are some #SafeFoodHacks for using a microwave to reheat food:

•      Previously cooked and frozen meat should only be reheated once
•      Stir halfway through to make sure it gets properly heated throughout
•      Make sure that it is steaming hot all the way through before eating. Eat immediately after reheating

For more helpful advice visit: https://www.food.gov.uk/consumer-advice/food-safety-advice

• Please feel to share this information as you feel appropriate
• To make a consumer complaint, obtain consumer help and advice or report an issue to Trading Standards, please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service at 0808 223 1133.
• For consumer or business help and advice, including details of our approved trader scheme, please visit our website: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards
• Sign up for regular scam alerts to your email inbox: https://mailchi.mp/warwickshire/scamawareness
• Sign up for our business advice and guidance (sector-specific) email alerts: https://warwickshire.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a24b439ef7022ae0d86f9ca6e&id=d3718c62c5
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/warwickshiretradingstandards https://twitter.com/WarksTSS
• If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please contact simoncripwell@warwickshire.gov.uk

Simon Cripwell

Senior Trading Standards Officer

Warwickshire County Council

Shire Hall (Post Room)

Northgate Street

Warwick

CV34 4RL

simoncripwell@warwickshire.gov.uk

01926 738987

07771 975570

Website

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards