Dr Vincent: Why you should avoid the buffet this xmas - and how to survive it if you can't

This Christmas, millions of Australians will be piling their plates high at family gatherings, work parties and community events but according to Australia's leading health and wellness expert, Dr Vincent, buffets may be one of the season's biggest hidden dangers.
 

"Buffets look festive and abundant, but they are also one of the fastest ways to pick up something you really don't want from food poisoning to bacterial contamination to viral illness," Dr Vincent said.
 

A clinical nutritionist, food scientist, antioxidant researcher and founder of Renovatio Bioscience, Dr Vincent said the combination of warm weather, improper food storage, long exposure times, shared utensils and multiple people touching the same surfaces creates a perfect storm for gastrointestinal and respiratory illness.
 

"Most people assume buffets are fine because they're common at celebrations. But they're actually one of the riskiest food environments especially at Christmas when temperatures rise, food sits out for hours and hygiene gets sloppy," he said.
 

Below, Dr Vincent outlines why buffets are unsafe, how to avoid them and what to do if you must eat from one this festive season.
 

Why buffets are unsafe
 

1. High-risk foods sitting in the danger zone
 

The food temperature danger zone, between 5°C and 60°C, is where bacteria multiply at alarming rates. Seafood, chicken, creamy salads, desserts, and cut fruit are the worst offenders.
 

"After two hours, bacteria can increase to dangerous levels. After four hours, the food is essentially unsafe to eat," Dr Vincent said.
 

2. Cross-contamination is almost guaranteed
 

Buffets rely on shared tongs, serving spoons, platters and multiple hands.
 

"One wrong spoon in the wrong dish can contaminate the entire tray and it happens constantly at buffets," he said.
 

Children touching food, guests double-dipping and people coughing over the spread all increase the risk.

3. High-traffic crowds spread germs quickly
 

Buffets attract people standing close together, talking over food, handling plates and touching surfaces that very few staff have time to sanitise.
 

"Respiratory droplets, dirty hands and repeated utensil use turn buffets into germ hotspots within minutes," he said.
 

4. Salads and desserts are silent danger zones
 

Cream-based dishes, mayonnaise salads, trifle, pavlova, custard desserts and fruit salads spoil quickly especially when left unrefrigerated.
 

"These foods look harmless, but they're responsible for a huge percentage of Christmas food poisoning cases," he said.
 

5. Seafood and chicken are very high risk
 

"Chicken and seafood are two of the highest-risk foods on any buffet. Avoid chicken that is lukewarm, dry, glossy or sitting in pooled juices as these are signs it has been in the temperature danger zone too long," Dr Vincent said.
 

"Steer clear of any chicken dishes with creamy sauces, as they spoil even faster. For seafood, avoid prawns, oysters or fish that are not sitting on ice, smell even slightly off or appear soft, slimy or discoloured. Seafood warms quickly and becomes unsafe within hours. If it doesn't look freshly replenished, cold and firm, skip it entirely."
 

How to avoid buffets altogether
 

Dr Vincent said the safest choice is to skip them entirely when you can.

• Choose plated meals instead of shared tables
• Eat beforehand so you're not heavily relying on buffet food
• Politely bring your own dish if appropriate
• Choose fresh, individually portioned options
• Stick to reputable venues with strong food safety practices

"When you reduce exposure to communal food, you dramatically reduce the risk of picking up something unpleasant," Dr Vincent said.
 

If you MUST eat from a buffet, follow Dr Vincent's survival playbook
 

1. Only eat what is steaming hot or clearly chilled
 

"If it's meant to be hot, it must be steaming. If it's meant to be cold, it must be icy. Lukewarm is danger territory," he said.
 

2. Take food from freshly replenished trays
 

Older trays have had more time to collect bacteria and contamination.
 

"Choose items that have just been brought out. Avoid anything that looks dried, shiny, sweaty or crusty," he said.

3. Avoid seafood, salads and creamy dishes
 

"These are the highest-risk foods for bacterial growth. This is where most post-buffet food poisoning starts so try and avoid these foods and dishes where ever possible. They may seem ok, but unfortunately unsafe food often looks fine when it is not," he said.
 

4. Use sanitiser before and after touching utensils
 

"One serving spoon can hold the germs of dozens of strangers. Sanitising your hands is basic self-defence," he said.
 

"When you return to the table with your plate, try and sanitise your own utensils as well. Better still bring your own. You can't be too careful around buffets."
 

5. Build a low-risk plate
 

Aim for foods with the least handling and lowest contamination risk:

• Carved meats
• Bread rolls
• Whole vegetables or roasted vegetables
• Whole fruit or uncut fruit
• Pre-packaged items if available

"Avoid anything that looks handled, mixed, stirred repeatedly or exposed," Dr Vincent said.
 

6. Never eat food that has fallen back into the tray
 

People often drop items, pick them up and put them back without anyone noticing.
 

"That food is now contaminated and should be avoided. If food looks out of shape or is sitting in an unusual location in a buffet servery, give it a miss. There is no point taking risks with potentially contaminated food."
 

Why this matters
 

Dr Vincent says many people incorrectly assume they caught a bug at Christmas events when in reality, they ate contaminated food hours earlier.
 

"Food poisoning often hits late at night or the next morning and people don't connect it to the buffet they enjoyed earlier."
 

Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever, dehydration and in some cases, hospitalisation.
 

Final advice
 

"Christmas buffets may look generous, but they're one of the least safe ways to serve food," Dr Vincent said.
 

"Being selective and mindful can help you avoid a post-Christmas health disaster and enjoy the holidays without spending Boxing Day in bed."
 

About Dr Vincent

Dr Vincent is Australia's leading health and wellness expert, clinical nutritionist, food scientist and antioxidant researcher. He is the founder of Renovatio, one of the country's fastest-growing health and wellness brands, known for its powerful antioxidant formulations derived from Australian apples. Products include supplements, skin care and pantry goods. With a PhD in food science and extensive experience in clinical nutrition, Dr Vincent is a passionate advocate for accessible, science-backed wellbeing. Through Renovatio, he is dedicated to helping people live longer, healthier and more vibrant lives by harnessing the power of nature and evidence-based innovation. He launched his skin care products in the US this year under the brand, Vincent. vincentplus.com
 

Visit: www.renovatio.com.au