Parties and events

A successful party is one that you and your guests enjoy. Obviously, that means no food poisoning!

Group of people gathered outdoors around a table with food and red plastic cups, with trees and a house in the background. Faces are blurred for privacy

In this section:

If you’re having an event, party or picnic with friends and family, it’s important to think about food safety. Find out how to prepare food safely for your event.

Safer party food

When you’re hosting a party, the last thing you want is to cut corners on food safety. The guilt of making someone ill is enough, but a lack of food safety could be dangerous. 

Firstly, give yourself plenty of time to prepare food to ease pressures. Follow these tips to make sure your party goes without a hitch:

  • keep food chilled in the fridge until it’s needed. If you’re short on fridge space, move wine and beer into buckets of ice, or somewhere cool like a cellar
  • do not cook too quickly. Even if people are waiting to eat, don’t reduce cooking times and check food is cooked before serving. Better safe than fast.
  • take extra precautions to make sure that the food you serve is safe for people with allergies or at greater risk from food poisoning

Barbecues

During barbecue season the temptation is to try and cook everything at the speed of light before the rain comes on. But nobody wants an undercooked burger, so find out how to avoid food poisoning at your next BBQ. 

Barbecue food safety
Barbecue grill with chicken, burgers and kebabs cooking in front of people sitting at an outdoor picnic table

Picnics

Picnics can be great fun but these warm weather events also give foodborne bacteria the chance to thrive. Follow our advice on how to transport and serve food safely when eating outdoors.

Picnics

Community and charity events

If you're planning a charity or community event, it's important to consider safe safety. Follow our advice to provide safe food at your event.

Community and charity events

Cooking at Christmas

Christmas food safety tips
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