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The best way to enjoy many of our favorite meat and seafood dishes is raw or (deliciously) undercooked. For example, salmon sashimi with buttery softness and citrusy ceviche are both best when served very rare. And as long as theyre sourced properly and stored at a safe temperature, there isnt really a reason—other than pregnancy or specific health concerns—to avoid these foods.
Theres a reason U. S. health officials recommend eating chicken when its fully cooked. Unlike red meats like meat or lamb, poultry often harbors harmful bacteria like salmonella. If these bacteria arent completely killed off during cooking, they can cause food poisoning, nausea, stomach pains, and/or diarrhea.
Of course, the best way to avoid this gastro-nightmare is by cooking your chicken all the way to doneness every single time—whether you are grilling, roasting, air-frying or searing. The FDA says to cook your bird until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. If you don’t already have a bird, you should get one.
Meet the Experts: Jennifer L Bonheur is a board-certified gastroenterologist in New York City. She works in her own practice and is also an attending doctor at both NYU Langone Medical Center and Lenox Hill Hospital. Samantha Nazareth is double board-certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology/Hepatology. She practices in New York City and is a Womens Health Advisory Board member.
Sounds easy enough, right? That said, youre not always the one doing the cooking. What happens if you find yourself biting into a grilled chicken leg at a dinner party or barbecue only to find that its woefully undercooked inside? Do you spit it out? Rush to the emergency room?
I caught up with gastroenterologists to find out exactly what to do if you ate raw chicken breasts, thighs or wings. I also asked some of the WH test kitchen pros to weigh in on how you can avoid this (terrible) situation in the first place.
Eating raw or undercooked chicken can make you very sick. To get rid of harmful bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter that might be in chicken, it needs to be cooked all the way through. If you eat raw or undercooked chicken by accident, here’s what you should do.
Why You Should Never Eat Raw Chicken
Raw chicken is unsafe to eat. It commonly contains bacteria like Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, and E. coli. If you eat raw or undercooked chicken, these bacteria can multiply and cause foodborne illness.
Foodborne illnesses that come from eating raw chicken can make you feel bad, like throwing up, having stomach cramps, and having diarrhea. Occasionally, it may also cause more serious issues, such as dehydration, joint pain, blood infections, and brain issues.
To avoid getting sick the FDA recommends cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F. This high temperature kills any harmful bacteria present. You should use a meat thermometer to confirm the chicken has reached 165°F before eating it.
What Happens Right After Eating Raw Chicken
You might get sick a few hours or days after eating raw chicken. The timeline depends on which bacteria you ingested:
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Salmonella – Symptoms start 6 hours to 6 days after eating raw chicken. They last 4-7 days.
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Campylobacter – Symptoms start 2-5 days after and last up to a week.
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Clostridium perfringens – Symptoms begin 8-12 hours after and last less than 24 hours.
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E. coli – Symptoms usually start 3-4 days after eating contaminated chicken.
At first, you’ll probably experience stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, and fatigue. For most people, symptoms go away on their own within a week.
But for some, especially those with weak immune systems, symptoms can get worse, which can cause them to lose water or get infections all over their bodies. Bloody diarrhea, high fever, dizziness, and neurological issues can occur.
What to Do If You Get Sick From Raw Chicken
If you start experiencing foodborne illness symptoms after eating raw chicken, focus on staying hydrated. Drink water, diluted juice, clear broths, and electrolyte beverages. Get plenty of rest.
Over-the-counter medications like loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate can help ease nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. But avoid forcing yourself to vomit, as this can damage your gastrointestinal tract.
See a doctor if symptoms last more than 3 days or you experience bloody stool, high fever, dizziness, or an inability to stay hydrated. They may prescribe antibiotics or IV fluids if needed.
Can You Get Sick From Slightly Undercooked Chicken?
Yes, you can still get foodborne illness from chicken that is slightly pink or bloody inside. Any raw or undercooked chicken can harbor Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, Clostridium perfringens, and other bacteria.
Don’t eat any chicken that is still pink inside. Send it back to be cooked longer if dining out. At home, use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches 165°F. Then let it rest before cutting into it.
How to Ensure Chicken is Cooked Properly
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Check that chicken is white throughout when cutting into it. No pink spots.
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Look for clear juices. Pink juices indicate undercooking.
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Use a food thermometer to check chicken’s internal temp. 165°F minimum.
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Let chicken rest at least 3 minutes before cutting into it.
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Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces after handling raw chicken.
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Store raw chicken below 40°F. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
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Defrost frozen chicken in the fridge, not on the counter.
Following proper handling, cooking, and storage guidelines reduces your risk of foodborne illness from chicken. Be especially careful when cooking for high-risk groups like pregnant women, infants, young children, and the elderly.
How to Avoid Cross-Contamination
Raw chicken can spread bacteria around your kitchen if you’re not careful. Follow these tips to avoid cross-contamination:
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Use separate cutting boards for produce and raw chicken.
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Wash hands immediately after handling raw chicken.
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Sanitize countertops, sinks, and appliances after preparing chicken.
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Never place cooked chicken back on a plate/surface that previously held raw chicken.
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Store raw chicken below ready-to-eat foods in the fridge.
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Clean reusable grocery bags that transported raw chicken.
Practice good food safety habits when grocery shopping, prepping, cooking, and storing chicken to prevent bacteria from spreading. Be diligent about washing hands and disinfecting surfaces.
When to See a Doctor
In most cases, foodborne illness goes away on its own after a few unpleasant days. But contact your doctor right away if you experience:
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Bloody diarrhea
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Fever over 102°F
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Signs of dehydration like dizziness or infrequent urination
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Inability to keep fluids down
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Diarrhea lasting more than 3 days
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Neurological symptoms like tingling or weakness
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Joint pain that persists after other symptoms improve
Let your doctor know if you ate raw or undercooked chicken before getting sick. People with weakened immune systems, infants, and the elderly should be especially vigilant about seeking medical care if symptoms don’t improve.
The Bottom Line
Eating raw or undercooked chicken can expose you to harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Cook all chicken to 165°F as measured by a food thermometer to kill bacteria. If you do get sick after eating questionable chicken, focus on staying hydrated and contact a doctor if severe symptoms or dehydration occurs. With proper handling and cooking, chicken can be a safe addition to a healthy diet.
How long after eating raw chicken will you get sick?
Lets talk timing. In the case of campylobacter, symptoms dont typically start to present themselves until two to five days after exposure, while salmonella can start wreaking havoc in as little as six hours, per the CDC. Similarly, these infections vary in length, from 24 hours (clostridium perfringens) to upwards of a week (campylobacter). The incubation time for E. coli is most commonly three to four days.
What can you do if you’ve eaten raw chicken but aren’t sick yet?
Unfortunately, once you eat raw chicken, theres not much you can do about it. Chugging water or rinsing your mouth wont bring on any magical fixes. And forcing yourself to vomit? “That wont help either,” Dr. Bonheur says.
Why You Never Should Eat Raw Chicken
FAQ
What should I do if I ate raw chicken?
If you accidentally ate raw chicken, monitor yourself for symptoms of food poisoning, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or stomach cramps. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids like water, diluted juice, or broth.
How long after eating raw chicken would you be sick?
If you eat raw chicken, you may start experiencing symptoms of food poisoning within a few hours or up to a week, depending on the type of bacteria involved. Salmonella symptoms can show up as little as 6 hours after eating, but Campylobacter symptoms usually show up 2 to 5 days after eating.
Will I get sick if I eat slightly pink chicken?
If you eat undercooked chicken, you can get a foodborne illness, also called food poisoning.Apr 29, 2024
Why can Japanese eat raw chicken?
Another important thing about Japan is that they have very strict controls on salmonella in eggs and chicken because they eat so much raw egg and chicken. Japan and some other Asian countries also utilise salmonella vaccinations for poultry.
What happens if you eat raw chicken?
Chicken meat can become infected with Campylobacter when it comes into contact with animal feces. The most common symptom of Campylobacter infection is bloody diarrhea. It can also lead to more serious complications in some cases. Salmonella and Campylobacter are the most common pathogens found on raw chicken. Some other pathogens include:
Can eating raw chicken cause food poisoning?
Eating raw chicken may cause food poisoning. Raw poultry meat can contain several different types of bacteria, including: Even consuming the juices from raw chicken can result in food poisoning. Campylobacter bacteria cause a Campylobacter infection, or campylobacteriosis.
What happens if you eat undercooked chicken?
If you eat undercooked chicken, you can get a foodborne illness, also called food poisoning. If you eat or drink anything else that has raw chicken or its juices on it, you can also get sick. CDC estimates that every year in the United States about 1 million people get sick from eating contaminated poultry.
Can you eat raw or undercooked chicken?
To better understand the dangers of eating raw or undercooked chicken and what you can do to protect yourself, we spoke with registered dietitian Mia DiGeronimo, RD. Despite whatever reason you may hear, you should never eat raw or “rare” chicken. “Raw chicken can have bacteria that can cause food poisoning,” says DiGeronimo.
Is it safe to eat raw chicken?
Eating raw or undercooked chicken can be harmful. A person should seek medical help if they are at a higher risk of developing complications or are unable to retain fluids. With proper handling and cooking, chicken is a safe food to eat and enjoy.
What to do after eating raw chicken?
Raw chicken can pose serious health risks if not handled properly. It contains harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, which can lead to foodborne illnesses. Despite our best efforts to cook chicken thoroughly, accidents can happen and occasionally, we may consume raw chicken unintentionally.