You can eat burgers rare in a restaurant... but not at home, says UK Food Agency

Eating burgers at home that you have cooked rare are likely to give you E.coli and other harmful bugs. Photo / iStock.

Restaurants can serve burgers rare, but home cooks should avoid leaving them pink in the middle, according to recommendations by a government watchdog in the UK.

The guidance issued by Britain's Food Standards Agency appears to be contradictory, with one rule for dining out and one for the family barbecue.

Historically, the watchdog has issued blanket advice that all burgers should be cooked through to ensure harmful bugs such as E.coli are destroyed.

But yesterday officials recommended that food outlets no longer need to abide by the regime if they can show the meat is from a safe supplier. The move follows pressure from some gourmet burger chains, pubs and restaurants which argue that the meat tastes better if it is pink in the middle.

The proposal is awaiting approval from the FSA board next month. An FSA spokesman said: "In places where people eat out, the food industry is able to implement strict controls ... and this helps to minimise the risk of people getting ill.

"It is unrealistic to expect similar controls ... in the home, so our advice remains burgers cooked at home should be cooked until no pink bits remain."

- Daily Mail