The time I (almost) poisoned myself at my own leaving do…

EHO Story 📩

You’d think that as an Environmental Health Officer, I’d be the last person to fall victim to a dodgy meal. But let me tell you about the time I (almost) gave myself food poisoning—at my own leaving do.

⏪Let’s rewind (a few) years…

I was a student EHO, finishing up my year-long placement at the council. To celebrate, the whole Environmental Health team went out for a meal.

The food arrived, the conversation was flowing, and I was too busy chatting (and probably telling work horror stories) to really focus on what I was eating.

Then, halfway through a chicken satay skewer… I looked down.

The middle was raw. Like, properly pink and undercooked.

Cue instant panic. I knew exactly what this meant, undercooked chicken = potential food poisoning bomb. And if I, a soon-to-be-qualified food safety professional, ended up being taken out by a satay skewer, I’d never live it down.

I spent the next 24 hours anxiously waiting for symptoms to hit. Luckily, I must have dodged a bullet (or at least a Salmonella-filled one), but it was a close call.

Moral of the story? Even EHOs can get caught out. And food safety doesn’t take a night off, especially not at a restaurant full of food inspectors!

Food Safety Tip

When serving chicken (or any poultry), it has to be cooked all the way through. Here’s how to be sure:

✔️ Use a digital thermometer: Chicken should reach at least 75°C in the thickest part.
✔️ No pink: The meat should be white all the way through, with no pink or raw bits in the middle.
✔️ Watch out for rushed service: In busy kitchens, raw food can make it out if proper checks aren’t done. Always cut into a piece before serving.

The Serious Lesson

One bad meal can lose you customers forever. Serving raw chicken isn’t just dangerous; if you poison your customers, you could face legal action.

If you’re in hospitality, make sure your team knows the non-negotiables when it comes to food safety. Proper training means fewer mistakes and no panicked EHOs at your tables.