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You might want to think twice before rinsing off raw chicken in your kitchen sink.
Recent studies by the British Food Standards Agency show that rinsing chicken can potentially spread bacteria on work surfaces in a three-foot radius, The Daily Telegraph reported. The report says up to 75 percent of consumers wash poultry before consuming it.
The FSA says 65 percent of raw chicken is contaminated with campylobacer, the most common cause of food poisoning, the paper reported. And while cooking will kill the bug, Campylobacter causes more than 300,000 cases of food poisoning and 15,000 hospitalizations a year in England and Wales.
That means washing your bird can spread harmful bacteria around your kitchen, potentially contaminating other foods in your kitchen that may not be cooked before eating.
The FSA is looking into ways to reduce contamination across the chicken production line, including disinfecting chickens with an antimicrobial wash -- a method not yet approved in the EU.
"Washing raw poultry is a common kitchen mistake, and it simply isn't necessary," an FSA spokeswoman told the Telegraph.
"Tap water won't get rid of the germs that cause food poisoning but they will be killed by thorough cooking. By washing your raw bird, you're actually more likely to spread the germs around the kitchen than get rid of them."
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7-26-2010 @2:26PM John said... The quickest way "to reduce contamination across the chicken production line" would be to not raise them in filthy conditions in pens where they are held shoulder to shoulder.
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7-26-2010 @2:59PM Flora said... Wow! I never would have thought this! Http://www.homeremediesguide.info It's great to get these little tips to make improvements - you learn something new every day!
7-26-2010 @3:58PM Mare said... I am a foodservice professional and I do not see anything wrong with washing your poultry product before cooking, but I would suggest washing down the entire prep and sink area with bleach when you are finished. This includes the backsplash to your sink, oven, counters, and especially your cutting board. I would also suggest wearing latex gloves when handling poultry. Be aware that cross contamination can occur when you make contact with other foods using the same knife or even your hands when not properly cleaned. Make sure to temp your poultry and assure a minimum of 165 degrees or higher and when the juice is running clear. This eliminates not only the chance of getting sick from undercooked product, but also to make sure you don't overcook it.
7-26-2010 @2:29PM Goose said... I always wash chicken or any other meat I intend cooking; who knows where its been in the packaging process; it could have been laying on the floor over there for all we know. I think its necessary and not doing it could be just as bad as far as Im concerned.
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7-26-2010 @7:48PM oldmev said... Washing all your food items is a good idea. I have been a chef for a long time and it is a common sense practice to wash or at least thoroughly rinse most food items. There are many other bacterias to worry about also. The solution is to not splash by turning the water up too high. Wash your hands with bacterial soap after handling every food item, do not use the same utensils on other items unless disinfected, and wash your hands with bacterial soap often. The hand washing cannot be stressed enough. Disinfect your work areas before moving new food items in. Washing hands many times or disinfecting every step may sound crazy, but one bout with food poisoning will convince you. If you use gloves change them or disinfect in bleach solution between each food item. Nitrile or vinyl gloves are the least prone to cause an allergic reaction, as many people can't tolerate latex.
7-26-2010 @2:49PM star said... Maybe the Chicken companies need to sterile the chicken and wrap it up in the bacteria proof bag.
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7-26-2010 @3:09PM heavy said... star: Your on the right track in your thoughts. Tough to sell "sterile" product, FDA would need to be involved. USDA would also want in. Making "claims" about sterility brings in more gov. agencies, becuase they (producers) have to be able to prove claims, and that raises a whole new issue.
Easier to just irradiate, and bring down harmful bacterial levels to more manageable levels. May not kill them all, but will reduce risk exposure
7-26-2010 @2:37PM Jack said... As far as i'm concerned buying chicken, cooking chicken, and the thought of eating it is bad!
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7-26-2010 @2:46PM heavy said... People..If you would all calm down and let producers/ packagers irradiate food, there would not be any problem. If you educated yourselves about irradiation, you would KNOW, that it's completely safe. But the ignorant want to remain that way, and say stupid things about the subject, not knowing the true facts. There would not be the bacterial contamination, if this were allowed. But Consumer groups harbor the ignorant among them, and still, in this day and age, people still have the facts wrong about irradiation....Can't figure out why?? Industrial Microbiologist
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7-26-2010 @3:14PM Cynthia said... Come on! How are these people washing their chicken? With high-pressure hoses? Besides, you'd end up spreading bacteria just as far by putting it on a cutting board and then carrying it to a pan to cook it. I know that tap water will not kill all the bacteria on raw chicken but I'm pretty sure it will rinse off some of it.
When I'm done rinsing my chicken and cutting it up, I clean up the sink and surrounding area with hot, soapy water.
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7-26-2010 @5:45PM Nancy said... Exactly what I was thinking... you wash gently, pat dry, season then you wash the area, your hands, the sink, even the soap dispenser... anything you may have touched... not that hard to do!
7-26-2010 @2:51PM Heavy said... Sorry John, your wrong in your assumtion. You't cant raise sterile chickens, it's the process that contaminates them, not the growing conditions. Microbio man
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7-26-2010 @2:59PM Sue S said... That's just crazy to me. Chicken is gross when you open the package. There's no way I'd just cook it without washing it. Germs all over it, probably traces of feces, plus all that slimy JUNK - YUCK!!
7-26-2010 @2:56PM Cora said... The bottom line is to store your meats properly, do not extend their refrigerated life and most importantly cook them to a safe temperature. Do not cook them so slowly that they get a chance to turn bad.
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7-26-2010 @3:09PM Heavy said... Sue S: I agree, it is gross, but the damn things taste so good. Just make sure the "splash" water stays in the sink. Clean up, disinfect, after washing, and never, ever, ever, put cooked chicken on a
plate that had raw chicken on it. That's a nightmare waiting to happen....Good Luck
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7-26-2010 @3:19PM n said... This is how I treat any kind of poultry in our home........
I cut ( if it's needed) the poultry in my VERY clean sink ( or on my always bleached poly cutting board)
After I wash the poultry.... and before I start to do the actual cooking, I first wash everything, that may have come in contact with said poultry >>> that includes any surrounding areas that may have had some of the water splashes on it .
After I'm done with that first step, I then spray everything in the surrounding area with my Clorox spray, and let the solution set about 5 or so minutes, before I dry everything off. Then what can be put in the dishwasher.... goes in the dishwasher.
>>> Sounds like a lot of work ??? NAH... Been doing it this way for over 40 years , and no one has ever been sick because I was careless..
>>> Once you get the system down pat.... it's a breeze, and goes very fast....
PS: I'm not a clean freak by any stretch of the imagination >>>> EXCEPT, > When it comes to POULTRY ! LOL..... HAVE A GOOD DAY EVERYONE ;0)
>>>> Another PS: We eat poultry several times a week, > but not tonight..... Tonight, it's a loin of pork, oven roasted potatoes and onions.... a homemade fresh vegetable soup, and fresh homemade iced tea with fresh lemon. yummy yum yum.. LOL
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7-26-2010 @3:52PM Heavy said... "N" well said, well done...Follow and learn from her directions people...40 yrs, NO ISSUES, enough said.
7-26-2010 @5:16PM Jaane said... What time is dinner?
7-27-2010 @8:43AM Joyce Benedict said... you sound like a great cook! Couldyou email me recipe for your veggie soup?
Some soups I make are good, but never seem to get a good flavor for a veggie soup.
Thanks. Joyce B.
7-26-2010 @3:40PM Suzie said... Are they suggesting that we do not WASH the chicken we cook?
I'll take my chances and wash it anyway rather than eat unwashed chicken.
They must be CRAZY!
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