Health chiefs in Kirklees have backed a new food safety camapign.

And the message: ‘Don’t wash raw chicken’ is the warning for Food Safety Week which runs from June 16 to 22.

Washing raw chicken can spread a food bug called campylobacter, the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK. It can be fatal.

A council spokesman said: “Imagine the London 2012 opening ceremony and the Olympic stadium filled to bursting point with spectators? Now, try to imagine that huge crowd multiplied by three. That’s about a quarter of a million people and that’s how many people in the UK could be struck down by campylobacter this year.

“Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK. You can’t see it, smell it or even taste it on food, but you won’t forget it if it affects you. At its worst, it can kill”.

The Food Safety Agency is leading a campaign to bring together the whole food chain to tackle the problem. Farmers and producers are being asked to work harder to reduce the amount of bacteria on their raw poultry. Consumers will be able see the latest data and be the judges of any progress, or lack of progress, that they make.

Local authorities, all the major supermarkets and key partners will be working together to make sure people know how to stay safe. Advice on how to keep yourself and your family safe and how to recognise the symptoms of campylobacter is available at www.food.gov.uk/chicken .

Bob Martin, Head of Foodborne Disease Strategy at the Food Standards Agency said: “This is a serious problem and we are calling on the whole industry to act together to tackle campylobacter. People across Kirklees can do their part by handling and preparing chicken with extra care – don’t wash raw chicken, cook it properly and enjoy it safely.”

Clr Steve Hall, Kirklees Cabinet member for Place said “It’s important that we do our part to make sure that people know to handle and cook food safely for themselves and for their families. We want to keep people in Kirklees safe and well by being part of this campaign to spread the word – and not the germs.”

Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news.

Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here

To follow us on Twitter click here