Planning on a lavish Christmas dinner this year with turkey, duck or goose? Well take care as every December many people fall ill after eating food that isn't being  prepared, cooked, reheated or stored  properly.

Officers at East Cambridgeshire District Council Environmental Team and the Food Standards Agency are giving advice on how to defrost, cook and store a turkey to make sure that food poisoning doesn't spoil anyone’s Christmas.

Some of the basic tips include:

• Don’t wash your turkey - up to 80% of people significantly increase the risk of food poisoning by washing their turkeys before cooking them.
• Make sure your turkey is cooked thoroughly. Cut into the thickest part of the bird to check that none of the meat is pink and ensure that the juices which run out are clear.
• Use your leftovers safely. If you’ve stored cooked turkey in the fridge, eat it within two days. If you want to make your turkey leftovers last longer, put them in the freezer within one to two hours of cooking.
• Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before preparing food and after handling raw meat or poultry.  Make sure your worktops and utensils are clean and disinfected.
• Check your fridge is at the right temperature – below 5°C – to stop germs from growing. Don't pack the food too tightly as the cold air needs to circulate to cool your food.
• Defrost fully. If you buy a frozen turkey, make sure that the turkey is fully defrosted before cooking it. It can take as long as 48-hours for a large turkey to thaw.
• Use different chopping board and knives for raw meat and foods that are ready-to-eat, like cooked meats, salads and raw vegetables, and ensure they are cleaned between each use.

Liz Knox, Environmental Services Manager at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We all love Christmas with its mixture of presents, family and food so why ruin it by having food that isn’t cooked properly. For many, this year may be the first time they will have cooked a big turkey or for others it is an annual tradition; either way it is very important to follow simple advice to not fall fowl of a food bug.

“We often get calls over Christmas from people who say they have been poisoned from eating out but normally it can traced back poorly cooked food at home. This is why you should always defrost and cook your turkey thoroughly as well as washing your hands whenever you handle raw turkey.  It is recommended that you have a fridge thermometer to check your fridge is operating at 5 degrees, and make sure that your fridge isn’t overstocked with food. If it is items won’t be cool enough, encouraging bacteria to grow in food. It is all common sense really but by following the simple common sense rules you will have a bug free and hopefully smashing Christmas.“