We told you a while back the dangers of washing your chicken which sent everyone into a frenzy. It almost seems absurd to NOT wash it because it makes you think you're serving your family dirty chicken. Now there is further proof that it is A LOT more deadly than you thought!
Normally people fear salmonella can spread through raw chicken, but now there is a worse bacteria we have to look out for!
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The Food Standards Agency in the U.K. is warning the public that the new bacteria, Campylobacter, can be spread by washing chicken. In fact, it is supposedly deadlier than salmonella and many people are completely oblivious to it.
According to reports, Campylobacter can cause Irritable Bowel Syndrome, arthritis and attack the nervous system. One woman says she became a victim of the bacteria and got Guillain-Barre syndrome 17 years ago which left her paralyzed from the waist down for seven weeks. She is still partially paralyzed in her feet and says sometimes she can't feel her toes move. In other instances some people have died or received amputations due to infection from Campylobacter.
Considering how common this bacteria is, experts say only 28 percent of people have heard or know of it. It can commonly be found in raw meat or dairy products, but most cases stem from chicken. Those in danger of the bacteria are small children under five and the elderly which is why people are being urged not to wash their chicken. Experts say instead of getting rid of the bacteria while washing the chicken, they are spreading it.
This is new information is enough to scare anyone! Growing up it was normal to wash chicken before it was cooked, but could it be that we were causing more harm than good to the family? Despite this news I'm willing to bet there are lots of people out there who will continue to wash their chicken and if they choose to do that, I hope they are careful. It might be a force of habit hard to break, but if it can keep the family safer then it can't be such a terrible idea to avoid washing poultry.
Image via JaBB/Flickr
