A Telford butchers has launched a campaign to warn Shropshire residents about the dangers of summer barbecues and raise money for charity.
G. N. Badley & Sons, in Trench, will donate 10 per cent to the charity Carbon Monoxide Awareness for the sale of each new pack of four chorizo burgers.
Bosses said they wanted to do their bit to avoid a repeat of the tragedy in 2012 when a 14-year-old girl was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning when a barbecue was placed inside a tent to keep her family warm.
The accident happened at the Baron of Beef campsite in Bucknall, south Shropshire.
Lee Evans, senior butcher, said they wanted to help raise awareness and money.
He said: “We felt it was important to raise awareness of this issue and the safety precautions barbecue users should take.
“We don’t want to see any repeats in Shropshire – or anywhere else for that matter – of the tragedy of 2012. It happens all too often so whatever we can do to help, we will.
“We will donate to the charity from every sale – hopefully people will enjoy our new product and therefore help charity.”
The company, in Gibbons Road, is stocking the specialised burgers for the first time this year so is hoping sales will soar and hundreds of pounds can be raised for the charity.
As well as selling all the traditional meats and sauces for alfresco dining, G. N. Badley & Sons also stock disposable barbecues – so Mr Evans said this campaign is essential to help reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
He said: “When we decided to launch a new barbecue product we thought this was the ideal opportunity to warn people of dangers.
“If someone buys a disposable barbecue from us we want them to know what they need to be aware of – we take responsibility for everything we sell, whether it means our meat is traceable, fresh and top quality or that our customers should not light a barbecue in a tent.”
Carbon Monoxide Awareness launched it’s own national campaign in the House of Commons following Miss Thomas-Jones’ death in Shropshire.
The charity urged every MP to share the message with constituents and arranged for warning leaflets to accompany sales of barbecue equipment in stores such as tesco, Morrison’s, Homebase, B&Q and Dynelm Mill.
Lynn Griffiths, President of Carbon Monoxide Awareness, set up the charity 10 years ago after her family were poisoned by the gas for 11 years to 1999.
She said: “Carbon monoxide incidents here in the UK are rising much faster than our charity has ever seen before, yet so many people still don’t know that carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of any hydrocarbon fuel.
“The charity Carbon Monoxide Awareness appreciates the very kind offer made by Badley’s to donate a percentage of takings from the sale of every new chorizo burger.
“Their support in raising awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide through the BBQ season is very much appreciated by the charity and I.”