The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just made a surprising announcement when they said it is dangerous to wash raw chicken before cooking it.

“Americans eat more chicken every year than any other meat,” the CDC said. “Chicken can be a nutritious choice, but raw chicken is often contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria and sometimes with Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens bacteria. If you eat undercooked chicken or other foods or beverages contaminated by raw chicken or its juices, you can get a foodborne illness, which is also called food poisoning.”

The CDC went on to say that people should put raw chicken in a disposable bag before placing it in the shopping cart or refrigerator, washing hands with soapy water after handling it, using a different cutting board to handle it, and never put cooked food or fresh produce on the same surface as uncooked chicken. They also recommended that people used food thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked. In bold print, the CDC said not to wash the raw chicken because “chicken juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils and countertops.”

“Anyone can get food poisoning, but children younger than 5 years of age, adults aged 65 and older, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women are more likely to develop a serious illness,” the CDC continued. They went on to warn the public to call a doctor if they see signs of:

• High fever (temperature more than 102°F)
• Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
• Bloody stools
• Prolonged vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down
• Signs of dehydration, such as:
  • Making very little urine
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Dizziness when standing up