Time to ditch the Christmas goodies to avoid food poisoning
NO MATTER how many prawns you have leftover from Christmas lunch or how much you love ham, the message is simple.
Bin them.
The temptation to continue the festive eating beyond Christmas and Boxing Day shouldn't outweigh the risks associated with prolonged food, according to Queensland Health.
A Queensland Health spokeswoman said leftovers could lead to food poisoning if not in the right conditions.
"Christmas leftovers can be delicious but it's really important to ensure you've stored and prepared them properly - nobody wants a bout of food poisoning over the festive season,” she said.
"Three simple things to remember when enjoying leftovers to check the expiry dates of foods before consuming them, seafood should be consumed within two days of purchasing and throw away Christmas leftovers after three days.
"If you're still entraining guests, remember with foods such as dips, soft cheeses, pate, smoked salmon, and cold meats, they should not be left unrefrigerated for more than two hour.
"The most important food safety tip to keep in mind is; if in doubt, throw it out.”
