It’s what every meat supposedly tastes like, yet will never be replaced by its protein pals.
We’re of course talking about chicken.
And while it’s earth’s most popular protein – Americans eat more chicken every year than any other meat – it’s the food category responsible for the most food poisoning cases in the U.S.
Between 2009 and 2015, chicken was responsible for 3,114 outbreak-related illnesses, or 12 percent of all food poisoning cases. And because we transport, handle, and eat so much chicken, the chances of cross-contamination between raw and/or undercooked chicken with other foods dramatically increases.
Protecting Your Family from Food Poisoning
Safely handling and thoroughly cooking your chicken is essential in wiping out any illness-causing bacteria, particularly salmonella.
The CDC suggests these following food safety tips for chicken:
- Put your chicken in a plastic bag before it goes in the shopping cart or refrigerator to prevent raw juices from contaminating other foods
- Wash your hands with soap before and after handling chicken. You can employ this expert-recommended technique.
- NEVER wash raw chicken (Here’s why.)
- Use a separate cutting board for your chicken
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165° F.
- Refrigerate leftover chicken within two hours
Obviously chicken isn’t the only food poisoning culprit – keep an eye out for these 14 other surprising foods that could give you food poisoning, too.
Photo Credit: Blablo101/Shutterstock.com; Bon Appetit/Shutterstock.com
