Irish consumers will shortly be able to purchase a disposable food thermometer that determines whether their meat products are thoroughly cooked, reducing the risk of food poisoning.
The T-Stick, sold in packets of 12 for £1.99, has the backing of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and business organisation IBEC. The cardboard stick is inserted into the cooked meat and turns blue in three seconds if the meat has reached the desired temperature, indicating it is thoroughly cooked. It is suitable for chicken, burgers, pork, and stuffed meats. It is recommended that cooking such meat to 75 degrees C degrees celsius would kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli O157 and salmonella.
The director of IBEC's Food and Drink Federation, Mr Ciaran Fitzgerald, said that the development of the T-stick indicated heightened awareness among producers for promoting food safety.
Mr Fitzgerald added that while the T-stick would provide consumers with added assurances about the safety of their food, food processors and retailers must continue to comply with all the recommended hygiene practices. The chief executive of the Consumers' Association of Ireland, Mr Dermot Jewell, said he believed the T-stick would get a strong welcome from consumers. "It's nice to see a product introduced for use in an important stage in the food chain."
The T-stick is produced in the US, where it has proved to be popular since it was introduced to the market in 1995 following an outbreak of E. coli in Seattle, according to a spokeswoman for Irish distributors Carrex International.
Irish consumers are advised to cook meat to 75 degrees - four degrees more than US recommendations - so the product was adapted for the Irish market following discussions between the FSAI, the Food and Drink Federation, and Carrex International. The T-Stick will be available in most retailers from today.