Urgent 'buffet roulette' warning over key mistake almost half of people are guilty of

Whether you're hosting or going to your friends' and family's this festive season, there are a few rules when it comes to storing leftovers after a big meal.

Ahead of Christmas, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) revealed the most common six food hygiene 'fails' committed by consumers. These popular mistakes range from not checking the use-by dates on some products when preparing food at home to playing buffet roulette and even not washing your hands when making food.

If you and your loved ones want to steer clear of food poisoning this Christmas and New Year's, there are some simple ways to ensure your leftovers are in top-tip shape for later.

First off, playing the buffet roulette with the food you've just consumed is a big no.

According to the FSA, 45 percent of consumers aren't really paying attention to where their food is stored in between meals. Some said they're likely to leave food from the fridge out after it is served (for example, for a buffet, hence the name) and eat it a few hours later.

33% of respondents don’t always wash their hands before cooking or preparing food at home, the FSA found (tora photo/500px/Getty Images)

Preventing food waste and ensuring that all food is consumed is important, but so is making sure that you're not hit with some nasty reaction to spoiled food.

The FSA always recommends to freeze your leftovers for future meals as soon as possible after preparing your dishes and to refrigerate your food after a meal if you want to eat it later.

Having your fridge set at the correct temperature is also crucial. It's hard to determine if your fridge is at the right temperature just by opening its door, so regularly checking the thermostat to have your food stored at 5C or below will help you not have your products and leftovers go off without you evening noticing.

Make sure your fridge is set at a temperature of 5C or below. (Elena Noviello/Getty Images)

Lastly, the FSA issued a reminder for all consumers who may not be familiar with the difference between use-by and best before dates on products.

Use-by dates concern safety. Food should always be consumed or frozen before the date shown on the label to avoid the risk of getting a nasty stomach bug ruining your holidays.

Best before dates do not relate primarily to safety, but are an indication of the quality of the food. The product in question can still be safe to eat after its 'best before' date, but may not be at its best.

If you're reading this too late and you've find yourself down with a stomach bug, there are some tips to avoid passing it on to your family or any people you live with, such as:

• Cleaning surfaces regularly with bleach and wash your bedding at temperatures of 60C or higher
• Avoiding preparing food for others if you feel unwell and don't visit vulnerable people for 48 hours after symptoms have stopped
• Washing your hands in the sink, as alcohol gels aren't effective on all bugs.