TV chefs "irresponsible" on hygiene

Television cooking shows are setting a bad example on food hygiene, a leading public health official has said.

Dr Layla Jader, from the National Public Health Service for Wales, made the comments at the annual British Medical Association conference in Edinburgh.

"These are being watched by impressionable people, they should be setting a good example," she said, citing Ready Steady Cook and Celebrity MasterChef as examples of offenders.

"I really get frustrated, I've seen it so many times. They bring in the vegetables, they open the bag and they make the salad straight from unwashed vegetables. They do it for the sake of expedience, but these programmes are watched by millions of people."

Dr Jader, who said British society at large neglects the importance of hygiene and food safety, added: "It's irresponsible. If they are going to do something that's not healthy they should say: 'We are in a hurry but please wash the salad and vegetables before you serve it.'"