Food safety and home hygiene

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Are we too clean for our own good?

We examine whether modern home and personal hygiene standards are to blame for the rise in allergies.

Interlocked fingers being washed with soap and water

How to wash your hands

Washing your hands is one of the simplest ways you can protect yourself and others from illnesses such as food poisoning and flu.

Why you should never wash raw chicken

Washing chicken before cooking it can increase your risk of food poisoning from campylobacter.

Food poisoning

Find out about the causes and symptoms of food poisoning and what you can do to help your recovery.

10 ways to prevent food poisoning

How to prevent food poisoning, including tips on hand washing, food storage and thorough cooking.

How to prepare and cook food safely

How to prepare and cook food correctly to reduce the risk of food poisoning, including E. coli.

Does the 'five-second rule' really work?

Is food dropped on the floor ever safe to eat? We put the 'five-second rule' under the microscope.

Food labelling terms

A guide to some of the most common food labelling terms, including use by, best before, low fat and no added sugar.

How to wash fruit and vegetables

How to store, wash and prepare fruit and vegetables to prevent food poisoning, including E. coli.

How to store food and leftovers

Tips on storing food and leftovers to prevent food poisoning.

How to prevent germs from spreading

Cleaning tips to help reduce the number of germs in your home.

Foods to avoid if you're over 65

Find out why over-65s are at higher risk of food poisoning and what foods are risky.

Keep your home clean

How good home hygiene can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as MRSA, E.coli and Clostridium difficile.

Beware of common household germs

How to stop common germs from spreading in the home, including MRSA, E. coli, norovirus and Clostridium difficile.

Food and hygiene facts

Facts about germs in the home, including where most germs are found and how to stop bacteria spreading in the house through good hygiene.

Cooking turkey

Cook the perfect Christmas turkey with our guide to defrosting and cooking turkey safely, and using turkey leftovers.

The truth about sweeteners

Find out the evidence on the safety of some of the most common sweeteners available in the UK.

Bedbugs

Find out about the signs of a bedbug infestation, and how to get rid of them

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