Can washing raw chicken cause cross-contamination and food poisoning?
When preparing food, the habit of washing vegetables or fruits before use is necessary. However, washing raw chicken is a big mistake that many people still accidentally make. Although it seems that washing chicken will help remove dirt and bacteria, in fact, it poses serious health risks.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), washing raw chicken can cause bacteria from the meat, such as Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus aureus, to spread throughout the kitchen. These bacteria easily stick to kitchen items such as knives, scissors, or even other foods. The CDC called the phenomenon crossing-clearing, and warned that washing raw chicken was a major cause of food poisoning.
Just a few cells of Campylobacter can cause serious food poisoning, warns Dr. Ian Williams, a food safety expert at the US CDC. Washing the chicken will cause these bacteria to spread everywhere, polluting your kitchen." This not only harms the processor but also the whole family.
Washing raw chicken with water is a popular habit in many families. However, nutritionist Avni Kaul, founder of NutriActivania in India, said: Bacteries from raw chicken will stick to the drops of water from the meat and spread quickly. This increases the risk of food poisoning that cannot be seen with the naked eye".
How to clean chicken safely
In fact, the high temperature from cooking chicken is enough to kill most harmful bacteria. Dr. N. Vijayashree, a nutritionist at MGM Healthcare in Chennai (India), suggests: If you want to clean chicken before cooking, you can use ingredients such as salt, vinegar or lemon juice. Gently applying to the surface of the meat will help remove part of the bacteria without spreading them in the kitchen".
In addition, traditional spices such as turmeric, which have natural antibiotic properties, can also help reduce bacteria on the surface of meat. Lemon juice not only helps to deodorize but also helps to naturally clean.
An important note is that cooking chicken to at least 74 degrees Celsius will help kill most harmful bacteria, ensuring food safety for your family. Experts recommend that this is the safest and most effective method to clean up and destroy bacteria in raw meat.
When preparing chicken, instead of washing it, you should believe in the safety of using natural spices and cooking temperatures. This not only helps protect health but also keeps your kitchen clean and safe. Therefore, let's give up the habit of washing chicken and choose more scientific cleaning methods to protect the whole family from the risk of food poisoning.
