Chicken lovers everywhere, listen up. Most of the raw chicken bought in grocery stores across the United States have potentially harmful bacteria.
Consumer Reports researches bought 316 raw chicken breasts in 26 different states and came up with an incredible 97 percent of the pieces of chicken testing positive when tested for six different bacteria. All of the bacteria tested for are potentially harmful, according to Urvashi Rangan, Consumer Reports’ director of consumer safety and sustainability.
Rangan, who spoke on the “CBS This Morning” television program, said that it is even more problematic that many of the bacteria samples were resistant to three or more antibiotic classes – which means they are multiple-drug resistant.
Rangan advises that people who purchase chicken in the food stores make certain that their chicken is packaged in a plastic bag. She also said that people who are buying organic chicken because they think it is safer could be mistaken. She says things like organic and other welfare labels do provide value, but what people don’t really realize is that the natural label actually means nothing regarding the possibility of it being contaminated.
Rangan also stressed that people should be extremely careful about hygiene when handling chicken – from the time it is purchased to the time it is served. For example, the cutting knife used to cut the chicken should be put in the dishwasher immediately and not used for other kitchen chores until completely cleaned.
Finally, Rangan said that it is extremely important to cook the chicken thoroughly. She strongly advises that cooks invest in a meat thermometer – as it is asserted that only 37 percent of people cooking in the kitchen own one.
