CELEBRITY chefs are behaving irresponsibly by failing to observe basic standards of hygiene on TV, a health expert has said.

Dr Layla Jader accused them of setting a bad example by forgetting to wash their hands or clean fruit, meat and vegetables properly.

People were at risk from illnesses caused by bugs like salmonella and E-coli, she said.

Dr Jader called for a campaign to remind people of the need to get `back to basics'.

The public health consultant from the National Pubic Health Centre for Wales said programmes like Ready Steady Cook and Celebrity MasterChef set a bad example.

Ready Steady Cook is hosted by Ainsley Harriott and features top chefs like Fern Britton's husband Phil Vickery.

Dr Jader said: "I really get frustrated, I've seen it so many times. They bring in the vegetables, they open the bag and they make the salad straight from unwashed vegetables.

"They do it for the sake of expedience but these programmes are watched by millions of people.

"It's irresponsible. If they are going to do something that's not healthy they should say: `We are in a hurry but please wash the salad and vegetables before you serve it'."