Households have been told not to turn their fridge off to save cash, as the cost of living crisis continues to send energy bills soaring.
Cornwall Council has issued a warning to its residents after a food bank said struggling families have been switching appliances off.
But by turning your fridge off, you actually risk food poisoning if you store food at temperatures above 5°C.
If food is kept above this temperature, bacteria can start to grow and thrive in your fridge.
The director of public health for Cornwall said turning off your fridge "could leave you with a nasty stomach bug".
It could actually turn out less economical for your wallet as well.
Are you worried about affording your energy bills this winter? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
Cornwall Council says your appliance will end up using more energy to bring the temperature back down once they are switched back on.
Rachel Wigglesworth, director of public health for Cornwall said: "We know the cost of living crisis is putting huge pressure on people.
“We at the council are determined to help as many as possible weather this storm."
The warning comes as energy bills are predicted to spike again this winter.
This price cap - which limits the rates a supplier can charge for each unit of gas and electricity you use - rose on April 1, 2022, from £1,277 to £1,971 per year on average.
Cornwall Insight thinks this could rise by £1,388 to hit £3,359 in October.
It could then rise by another £257 to reach £3,616 in January 2023 - £1,645 more than it is now.
A statement from Cornwall Insight said: "Our predictions for the price cap have continued to rise amid wholesale market volatility.
"Due to uncertainty over Russian gas supplies ahead of winter, these latest forecasts indicate the potential longevity of high household energy costs."
The highest predictions for energy prices have come from analysts at BFY, who said these could hit £3,420 in October - then £3,850 when the price cap is reviewed again in January 2023.
Households that are on the price cap are default tariff customers who are on a standard variable rate (SVR) tariff because they haven’t switched to a fixed deal.
This also applies to those who remain with their new supplier after their previous supplier exited the market - some 30 energy firms have gone under since 2021.
If you are on an SVR tariff, then you will see your bills go up in line with the price cap.
Are you worried about affording your energy bills this winter? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
