020346 Britains Who Like Rare Meat Sign DisclaimersMarch 21, 2002London - Some restaurants in Britain are forcing customers who like their meat rare to sign a disclaimer form before eating due to fears of the risk of E. coli and salmonella poisoning, the Sunday Times newspaper reported. It said that restaurants including food chains Planet Hollywood, All Bar One and Shoeless Joe's were prepared to serve rare hamburgers, sausages or minced beef only if diners complete forms giving up rights to take legal action. The newspaper said that people eating minced beef that is pink in the middle are much more likely to be poisoned by E. coli or salmonella. The new practice has been blamed on advice from the government's food safety watchdog saying that minced meat should only be served when it is well-done. The warning does not apply to ordinary steaks because they only carry bacteria on the outside, which are killed by cooking. Egon Ronay, the restaurant critic, attacked the disclaimers: "I don't know where it will all stop--soon you might have to fill in a huge form before setting foot in a restaurant."
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