Foodies beware

SPANISH holidaymakers are unhappy after they were accused of hogging front line beach spots in Benidorm. At 6am it is common for many of the coveted spots to already be taken on Levante beach in the resort.

"I get up at 5.40am," said Poli González, a pensioner from Ciudad Real. "I come once a year in July and I like to have my front row," he said to Sur in English.

"Everyone lives their own holidays," said Francisco Pérez. "I've been a farmer all my life and it's not hard for me to get up early. I come here, put my chair down, take a walk and then go and have breakfast with my wife".

In the last few days, Benidorm's Levante beach has been in the spotlight after a report in a national newspaper, headlined "Hilarious moment when Benidorm locals are caught setting up their sunbeds in the middle of the night to beat the crowds of British tourists".

"If the police come and they remove the umbrella, you move away and leave, so you don't pay the fine," one Spanish early riser said, with a laugh.

SPECIALISTS from Denia Hospital stated that an increase in food poisoning cases are seen in the Summer, and have given advice on how to avoid it.

Food poisoning can be caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. This was explained by Dr. Antonio Valdivia, head of the preventive medicine service.

Valdivia said that, according to data from RENAVE (National Epidemiological Surveillance Network), “The most frequent outbreaks are those caused by salmonella, followed by those caused by histamine or Norovirus, and the foods most frequently implicated are those that contain egg products”. The recommendation is to avoid eating foods such as undercooked meat in summer, unpasteurised dairy products or products that contain raw eggs. Care must also be taken with the intake of vegetables that are eaten raw and unpeeled, rice or other stews prepared in advance and not cooled correctly, or ready-to-eat foods from untrusted sources. made good additions to a vital infrastructure, which will enrich the project and improve its connectivity”.

He stressed the importance of hygiene.

The improvement plan is estimated to amount to €65 million and will be “vital for the region of La Safor for the improvement of connectivity and for the economic and social development and competitiveness of our businesses”, he said.