Barbecue food usually consists mainly of meat and often in large quantities. It is also often prepared by people who do not regularly cook such food and so are not always aware of the amount of time needed to ensure the meat is cooked safely.

Following this advice should ensure that the food served is safe to eat.

Meat:

• Defrost all meats thoroughly
• Keep meat in the fridge until needed
• Keep cooked and uncooked meat completely separate
• Cut the meat into small portions before cooking
• Pre-cook chicken to ensure the middle gets cooked properly
• Use separate utensils for cooked and raw food
• Make sure that the meat is cooked through by testing a piece or by using a meat thermometer (see Amazon advert below)
• Keep the heat low to prevent burning the outside before the inside is cooked
• Serve meat immediately after cooking

Salads:

• Keep ingredients covered and refrigerated until needed
• Minimise the use of "high risk" ingredients such as home-made mayonnaise, ham, shell-fish and eggs

Hygiene:

• Have a bowl of warm, soapy water handy for washing hands between cooking
• Keep all utensils on a clean tray or table away from the food
• Make sure the cook wears an apron and uses clean towels

Your own personal safety is another important consideration when barbecuing. You should take the following sensible precautions:

• Set the barbecue up on a level surface away from plants, fences or flammable materials
• Never pour petrol or lighter fuel on to the barbecue
• Use kindling and fire lighters if necessary
• Keep a bucket of water handy incase of fires
• Avoid wearing loose clothing which may catch in the flames
• Make sure the fire is out when you have finished the barbecue
• Use a plant sprayer to douse flames from dripping fat
• Use long handled tools and thick oven gloves

• Poisonous Plants - Most of the plants you grow are perfectly safe but it is advisable to see that all steps are taken to ensure that you and your family are safe from harm. This is particularly important when it comes to children and animals.Tweet ...

The Horticultural Trades Association has worked with the Royal Horticultural Society and other organisations to compile a list of potentially harmful plants and to develop a Code of Recommended Retail Practice for the labelling of plants at garden centres and nurseries. Look for safety information on labels when purchasing plants and learn what to do in the unlikely event of poisoning through eating or handling plants.

Many plants, or parts of them such as fruits and seeds, are safe and good to eat and are recognized as food plants. Most others found in the garden as ornamental plants or weeds are not dangerous. Some may cause a digestive upset and discomfort if eaten, as will unripe fruit or raw rhubarb stalks, whilst a very few garden plants are more hazardous and could cause severe poisoning. A sensible rule is: If it isn’t a recognized food, don’t eat it. Make sure children know this.

As well as the danger of poisoning through eating plants, there is also the possibility of suffering an irritant or allergic reaction through contact with a plant or its sap. There are three main types of contact hazard:

a) Irritant sap may cause a burning sensation and sometimes blistering of the skin

b) Some plants contain chemicals called allergens

c) A very small number of plants have sap which renders the skin excessively sensitive to strong sunlight

What to do when poisoning is suspected

If you think a child or adult has eaten part of a doubtful plant seek medical advice at once from a hospital Accident and Emergency Department. If you think an animal has eaten a poisonous plant seek veterinary advice at once. In all cases take along samples of the plant concerned. Don’t panic, and do not attempt to make the subject vomit. In cases of irritant or allergic dermatitis severe enough to require medical attention, again provide a sample of the plant or plants suspected to be the cause.

Here is a list of well known plants and a description of the potential risk. Those plants described as poisonous may cause mild illness when eaten, while a very few may cause severe poisoning. The correct approach is to avoid eating any plants listed as poisonous.

Key: P = Poisonous, S = Skin Irritant, E = Eye Irritant

All of these plants are safe to grow provided they are treated with respect. Remember they are ornamental plants, not food plants.

With thanks to the RHS for this vital information

• Barbecue Safety - One of the main activities of the summer is barbecuing and there’s nothing better than sitting out in the sun with a cold drink and some delicious hot food! Barbecue food usually consists mainly of meat and often in large quantities. It is also often prepared by people who do not regularly cook such food ...