Directory

Access tools

Set Text size

| |

Set Contrast

| |

Text only
Translation
Listen

News

Eat, Drink And Be Merry

People in Poole are being offered a few festive tips to ensure they enjoy a safe and happy Christmas by eating and drinking sensibly.

When it comes to food, Borough of Poole's Environmental and Consumer Protection Services (E&CPS) stress the importance of defrosting and cooking a turkey correctly. Advice includes:

· Allow 10-12 hours per Kilo defrosting time in a fridge or at room temperature -always make sure that the turkey is thoroughly defrosted before putting it in the oven.
· Store raw meat at the bottom of the fridge in a covered container where it can't drip onto other foods.
· Plan cooking time in advance to make sure the turkey is in the oven early enough to cook it thoroughly. A large turkey can take several hours to cook properly.

Lucy Magill, Regulatory Services Manager for Environmental and Consumer Protection, said: "According to the Food Standards Agency around 10 million turkeys are eaten every Christmas and it is estimated that the traditional festive feast will cost the nation £305 million on turkeys alone. With so many turkeys cooking around the country hopefully our advice will help people in Poole who are cooking their first turkey, or just a reminder for those who cook a turkey every year."

Advice also includes a general guide for turkey cooking times:

· for a turkey under 4.5kg allow 45 minutes per kg plus 20 minutes;
· for one weighing between 4.5kg and 6.5kg 40 minutes per kg; and
· for those over 6.5kg 35 minutes per kg
at 180ºC, 350ºF, Gas Mark 4 (after the oven has preheated). These times are for an un-stuffed bird.

While Christmas is the time for making merry, revellers are warned against the dangers of binge-drinking over the festive period.

Binge-drinking is defined as eight or more units for men and six or more units for women on at least one day a week.

Advice from E&CPS includes:

· After an episode of heavy drinking refrain from drinking for 48 hours to allow your body to recover.
· Remember drinks poured at home are often bigger than pub measures.
· Work out how much you drink and try to stick to the guidelines - which are daily benchmarks, not weekly targets.

Cllr Don Collier, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Environment said: "E&CPS are promoting a very important message to ensure that Christmas is a merry one for all. While people should enjoy Christmas, it is important to remember that drinking too much may ruin it for them as well as the ones they are with. "

Lisa Gaskell, Communications, Borough of Poole, Tel: 01202 633060