Common food hygiene myths:

Myth 1: The five second rule

According to the "rule," if food drops onto the floor, it's safe to eat as long as you pick it up within five seconds.

Fact: Total fiction. However quickly you manage to retrieve it, any contact with the floor is long enough for the food to pick up germs which can make you sick.

Myth 2: The sniff test: If food looks and smells ok, then it's ok to eat

Fact: While a bad smell or taste can be signs that food has gone off, these signs often aren't caused by germs that give you food poisoning. So the food's appearance, smell or taste are not reliable warning signs.

Myth 3: Raw meat - especially chicken - should always be washed before you cook it

Fact: Most raw meat has germs on it, but washing won't get rid of them. In fact, washing is more likely to spread germs around the kitchen. Splashes containing germs can contaminate you, worktops and anything else they come into contact with. Thorough cooking is the only way to get rid of these germs.

Myth 4: A dodgy stomach is usually caused by the last thing you ate

Fact: A reasonable assumption you might think, but it's not always the case. Food poisoning symptoms can take between one to three days to develop, so it won't necessarily be down to the last thing you ate.

Myth 5: All red meat, such as steak and burgers, can be eaten rare

Fact: Whole cuts of beef or lamb such as steaks, joints and cutlets can be eaten rare as they only have germs on the outside. As long as they are fully cooked, the germs will be killed. Burgers and sausages are made from minced meat and will have germs throughout, so they need to be cooked all the way through (as does poultry).

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