Shoving leftover food into the fridge so it’s safe to eat tomorrow is the norm in most households.
But did you know that if one certain thing isn’t set correctly, then the food could become dangerous to your health? Maybe people don’t.
The temperature in your fridge is supposed to be set within a specific range and, if your fridge’s heat falls outside of the range, it could be hazardous.
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A new study has revealed that a shocking 71% of household fridges are running warmer than the recommended maximum temperature.
Food Standards Agency (FSA) says that your fridge should run between 0C to 5C.
Fridges that are at a higher temperature could speed up bacteria growth that can lead to severe food poisoning illnesses.
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Food poisoning symptoms usually start within a few days but can sometimes start after a few hours or not for a few weeks.
The symptoms include feeling sick, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, having a high temperature or generally feeling unwell.
Researchers from the ZERO2FIVE Food and Drink Research Unit at Cardiff Metropolitan University have discovered that 37% of household fridges studied operated at around 10C or higher, putting themselves at risk of infection.
The study conducted gave fridge thermometers to over 1,000 users and the participants were told to upload a picture of it to record its temperature.
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Out of the participants who recorded temperatures being over 5C, 80% of them were worried about the prospect of food poisoning and planned to lower the thermostat in their fridge.
According to Metro, Dr Ellen Evans from the ZERO2FIVE Food and Drink Research Unit, said: “This study has uncovered concerning findings in relation to household fridge temperatures.
“To ensure people are using their fridge at the right temperature and storing food safely, we’d recommend everyone uses a fridge thermometer, which is not expensive to buy, and then adjust their fridge controls to ensure it is operating at 5C or below.
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“Our findings also demonstrate that citizen science research can be helpful for capturing food safety data from the public, communicating key food safety messages, and promoting better food safety practices.”
People have been warned not to turn up their fridge temperature in an attempt to save money.
The cost of living crisis has many people concerned with how to pay the bills but one Cornwall health official has warned that turning up your fridge thermostat “won’t save you money and it could leave you with a nasty stomach bug”.
It might be worth checking your own fridge to make sure it falls within safety guidelines.