Washing chicken before cooking can lead to deadly danger

Australian experts warned: washing chicken before cooking can be dangerous for health

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to Lenta.ru, the Food Safety Information Council of Australia (FSIC) has issued an unexpected warning, according to the publication 9news.com.

Specialists claim that the common habit of washing raw chicken poses a serious health threat. Dangerous bacteria, including salmonella and E. coli, may be present on the skin of the bird. When washing, these microorganisms are not destroyed, but instead are splashed all over the kitchen surface, increasing the risk of food poisoning. FSIC Chairman Julian Cox emphasized that raw poultry already undergoes necessary processing during production, and home rinsing is not only useless but potentially dangerous.

To minimize the risk of contamination, Cox recommends thawing chicken exclusively in the refrigerator or microwave, using a special container that prevents contact of liquid from the bird with other foods and surfaces. It is especially important to ensure the chicken is completely thawed before heat treatment.

"Make sure that juices from raw poultry do not get onto other foods, especially desserts or salads that will not be thermally processed again before consumption," the expert also warned.