Many of us have our own preferences when it comes to storing certain food items.
For example, some people keep their ketchup in the fridge, while others store theirs in kitchen cupboards. But a recent study has revealed that there are some rules that Brits aren’t adhering to, putting millions at risk of food poisoning.
The study, conducted by white goods and tech retailer Currys, questioned 2,000 people about their fridge habits – and it uncovered some worrying trends regarding how households store their food.
It revealed that over one in five (23%) were unaware that the ideal fridge temperature should be 0-5C, which is the official recommendation of the Food Standards Agency.
Furthermore, 42% confessed to not regularly checking their fridge temperature, suggesting that potentially millions in the UK are exposing themselves to the risk of food poisoning, reports the Daily Record.
When it came to specific storage details, some 61% admitted they didn’t know that it’s not advised to store dairy products, such as milk, in the fridge door as it’s typically the warmest part of the appliance. This is due to the temperature fluctuating when the door is opened and closed.
And 22% of those surveyed were unaware that raw meat should be stored on the bottom shelf of the fridge, while a third confessed to consuming meat from the refrigerator without being completely certain it was safe to eat.
Men are nearly twice as likely to take such risks compared to women, with 41% males eating meat they weren’t sure was safe, versus 26% of females.
The research also questioned UK residents about their preferred storage locations for certain food items, some of which spark heated discussions.
For instance, despite labels on tomato ketchups (such as Heinz) clearly stating that once opened they should be “refrigerated and consumed within eight weeks”, 40% of those asked said they keep theirs in a cupboard.
The food item causing the greatest confusion regarding proper storage seemed to be eggs.
Examining Google searches across the UK, there are over 31,000 searches for “should I keep eggs in the fridge”, representing a 26% increase compared to last year.
The survey found 43% of people store their eggs outside the refrigerator, with 27% placing them directly on the worktop and 16% opting to keep them in the cupboard.
According to the Food Standards Agency, people should “store eggs in a cool, dry place, ideally in the fridge and keep them apart from other foods.”
Since kitchen temperatures fluctuate with weather conditions and cooking appliance usage, keeping eggs on the worktop could compromise their quality.
