That wicker basket could make picnic a health risk

THEY may be part of the traditional British picnic, but wicker baskets pose a health risk.

Using one to carry and store your food could poison you, experts warn.

An old-fashioned hamper of perishable fresh items could grow dangerous levels of bacteria within an hour, particularly in the middle of a heatwave. Meats, soft cheeses and dips such as hummus or tzatziki are especially risky, the Food Standards Agency says.

Such foods should instead be kept in a proper cool box if being taken outdoors for a picnic, the watchdog advises. Wicker hampers are also likely

to harbour bacteria in the event of a spillage, as they are hard to clean thoroughly.

If you must use a traditional basket, the safest bet is to fill it with bread, cakes and hard cheeses, the FSA says.

More than a million cases of food poisoning are diagnosed each year in the UK, with those from campylobacter, E.coli, listeria and salmonella rising sharply in summer. Kevin Hargin, head of foodborne disease control at the FSA, said: ‘In this heat especially, people should carry fresh food in a cool bag rather than a hamper.

‘If left in the boot of a car, where it’s very hot, food could very well grow dangerous bacteria in under an hour. Wicker hampers are also difficult to clean. If you spill something it could spread germs.’

‘Carry fresh food in a cool bag’