Keep your Christmas food safe this festive season

17 December 2025

Christmas is a time for coming together over good food, whether it’s the big dinner, a Boxing Day buffet, or a table full of snacks for New Year’s Eve.

But nothing spoils the holidays faster than a bout of food poisoning.

Warm rooms, long evenings, and busy kitchens all make it easier for bacteria to grow, especially when food is left out for too long.

A few simple steps can help keep everyone safe and well.

• Put out only the amount of buffet food you expect people to eat, and top it up from the fridge as needed.
• Move any leftovers into the fridge within 4 hours.
• Plan your menu with care, smoked fish, soft cheese and cold meats can carry listeria, which multiplies quickly at room temperature.
• Cool leftovers quickly by spreading them out on a cool plate, letting them stand in a cooler spot, and putting them in the fridge within 90 minutes.

Enjoy the celebrations, share the food, and keep everyone safe around the table this Christmas.