12 December 2014
Being Green AND SAFE at Christmas (scroll down for Food & Cooking safety tips)
With the festivities fast approaching here are a few simple tips from Rochford District Council’s Recycling Team to help you have a greener Christmas:
- Reuse old wrapping paper and make present labels using old Christmas cards. Avoid buying glossy foil or metallic wrapping paper. You can do a beautifully wrapping job for your gifts without having to use metallic wrapping paper. This kind of 'paper' is difficult to recycle since there are heavy metals used in it. Foil gift wrap is also harder to reuse, since it wrinkles and creases easily when the gift is being unwrapped.
- Think carefully about the amount of food you buy. There is lots of information about portion sizes, leftover food recipes and storage tips at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
- New clothes and electrical items as presents? Don’t forget, old and unwanted textiles and small electrical items can be recycled.
- Use LED lights as they use up to 95% less energy than larger, traditional Christmas bulbs and last up to 100,000 hours when used indoors.
- Give 'battery-
free' gifts, discarded batteries are an environmental hazard. Even rechargeable batteries find their way into the waste stream eventually.
- Save any special gift wrap, ribbons and bows. When unwrapping gifts, save the paper for reuse; it can often be cut down for smaller presents. Creased wrapping can be ironed flat. Ribbons and bows are easy to save and reuse.
- Don’t forget the garden birds. Use excess cooking fat from the goose or turkey and muesli to make your own fat balls. While the fat is still warm, spoon into muffin cases; add a hanging string or make sure they fit your bird feeder.
Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Councillor Keith Gordon said: “During the festive season I would urge residents to recycle as much as they can. We want to make sure that the Green Christmas message reaches as many people as possible so that we can continue to divert as much waste as we can away from landfill.”
For more tips on how to have a ‘Green Christmas’, you can follow the recycling team on Facebook by ‘liking’ their page Recycle for Rochford.
You can also find out more about recycling at www.rochford.gov.uk/recycling
Food & Cooking Safety Tips
Don’t ‘Play Chicken’ with your turkey dinner this Christmas
16 December 2014
As friends and family prepare for festive get-
The most common errors that can lead to food poisoning are:
Not separating raw and ready to eat foods
Not washing hands between raw and ready to eat foods
Inadequate cooking
Leaving prepared food out at room temperature for too long
Some simple changes can help prevent food becoming contaminated:
Wash and clean!
Wash your hands before and after touching foods, bins, pets, etc.
Clean surfaces and chopping boards with hot soapy water or disinfectant
Wash up as you go
However…never wash raw poultry! (see below to find out why)
Fridges and freezers:
Set your fridge between 0-
Wrap or cover all food
Store ready to eat food above raw foods
Keep high risk foods, including cold meats, quiches, rice and desserts, refrigerated until you’re ready to use them
Do not exceed ‘use by’ dates
Let’s talk turkey!
Never wash raw poultry – this could splash germs everywhere! Cooking it properly will kill any bacteria present
Defrost frozen meats and poultry thoroughly, preferably in a fridge
Be mindful that it takes as long as 12 hours per kg to defrost a turkey in a fridge, or 2 hours per kg at room temperature
Ensure turkey is cooked properly before serving, by checking that:
o It is piping hot all the way through
o There is no pink meat when you cut into the thickest part
o Clear juices run out
It's better to cook stuffing separately to ensure the turkey cooks through. Ensure you allow adequate cooking time for stuffed turkeys, check the inside temperature with a thermometer if possible.
Let leftover meat cool down as quickly as possible, then store in a fridge for up to two days, or a freezer for up to three months
Only re-
Serving:
Do not use raw eggs in uncooked foods
Avoid making food too far in advance. Buffets shouldn’t be left out for more than 4 hours
Take special care with vulnerable guests such as children, pregnant and older people
Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Cllr Keith Gordon, said: “With all the merriments and distractions at Christmastime it is easy to make mistakes, and tempting to take shortcuts, when preparing food. This can be a costly mistake if all the fun is ruined by nasty food poisoning bacteria. Before the festive season reaches its peak, I urge residents to take some time to read the tips and get as organised as possible, to ensure an enjoyable and healthy Christmas for all”.
The Campylobacter bacteria, which thrives in raw or undercooked poultry, causes more cases of food poisoning than E. coli, listeria and salmonella put together! So follow this advice, and avoid ‘playing chicken’ with your food this Christmas!
Further information can be found at:
Rochford District Council -