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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 aren’t killed completely during cooking, they can make you sick, make you throw up, give you stomachaches, or make you have 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 recommends cooking your bird until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (and yes, you should if you dont own one already).
Meet the Experts: Jennifer L Bonheur is a board-certified gastroenterologist in New York City. In addition to working at her private practice, she’s an attending physician 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 be extremely dangerous. Chicken is a common carrier of harmful bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter, which can lead to severe food poisoning if ingested Consuming even a small amount of raw chicken exposes you to potentially life-threatening illnesses So what exactly happens if you accidentally eat some raw chicken? Here’s a detailed look.
Understanding Foodborne Illnesses
Pathogens like Salmonella Campylobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens are often found in raw chicken and can be very dangerous. If you eat undercooked chicken that has these bacteria on it, you take in the pathogens, which then quickly multiply in your body. This can make you sick from eating certain foods, which can give you diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever.
Foodborne illnesses spread easily from person to person and can even cause serious complications like reactive arthritis, meningitis, osteomyelitis, and sepsis. Vulnerable groups like pregnant women, infants, elderly and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk of severe illness. So it’s critical to handle raw chicken carefully and cook it thoroughly before eating.
Risks of Eating Raw Chicken
Even consuming a small amount of raw or undercooked chicken can make you sick Here are some key risks to be aware of
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Salmonella – The most common bacterial cause of food poisoning from chicken. Causes diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting.
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Campylobacter – Leads to diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever. Can also cause long-term complications.
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Clostridium perfringens – Causes abdominal cramps, diarrhea. Toxins attack the small intestine lining.
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Staphylococcus aureus – Leads to nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps. Can be life-threatening.
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Escherichia coli – Causes severe bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever.
So if you accidentally ingest some raw chicken, there’s a good chance you may develop symptoms of foodborne illness within hours or days. The duration and severity depends on your health, the pathogen involved and amount of chicken eaten.
Symptoms After Eating Raw Chicken
If you accidentally eat some raw chicken, watch out for these common symptoms:
- Nausea, vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps and pain
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Weakness and fatigue
- Dehydration
Symptoms typically start within 6-48 hours after eating the contaminated chicken. The timing varies depending on the pathogen – Salmonella symptoms may begin in 6-72 hours while Campylobacter onset is 2-5 days.
Most food poisoning symptoms last under a week but certain strains can cause prolonged illness lasting weeks. Seek medical care if you have severe bloody diarrhea, high fever, vomiting/diarrhea lasting over 3 days or signs of dehydration.
What To Do If You Eat Raw Chicken
If you eat raw or undercooked chicken by accident, here are some important things you should do:
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Don’t induce vomiting – This can make the illness worse.
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Drink fluids – Stay hydrated with water, broths, diluted juices or electrolyte drinks.
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Monitor symptoms – Note down any symptoms and when they started.
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Call your doctor—Right away call your doctor if you have severe diarrhea, vomiting, a high fever, or feeling thirsty.
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Take OTC medications – You can take Imodium for diarrhea or Pepto Bismol for nausea/cramps.
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Get rest – Food poisoning can leave you exhausted. Rest up and save your strength.
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Replenish nutrients – Once symptoms resolve, focus on regaining lost nutrients through vitamin supplements and nutritious foods.
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Practice food safety – Be meticulous about safe handling, cooking and storage of chicken moving forward.
Treatment for Food Poisoning
Most cases of getting sick from eating raw chicken will go away on their own with rest and water. But some people may need medical treatment such as:
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IV fluids – If dehydrated, you may need IV fluids to recover lost electrolytes.
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Antibiotics – For severe bacterial infections, doctors may prescribe antibiotics.
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Hospitalization – If you have severe diarrhea, dehydration or a weakened immune system, you may need hospitalization for close monitoring and prompt treatment.
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Dietary management – Your doctor may recommend a bland, BRAT diet to rest your stomach as it recovers.
To reduce the risk of complications, it’s important to seek timely medical care if your symptoms are severe or prolonged.
How To Avoid Food Poisoning From Raw Chicken
You can avoid the misery of food poisoning by taking simple precautions when handling raw chicken:
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Cook thoroughly to 165°F – Use a food thermometer to confirm chicken reaches the safe minimum internal temperature.
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Prevent cross-contamination – Use separate boards and utensils for raw chicken. Never place cooked food back on surfaces/plates that touched raw chicken.
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Wash hands and surfaces – Wash hands, cutting boards, utensils in hot soapy water after handling raw chicken.
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Refrigerate promptly – Store raw chicken below 40°F. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
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Thaw safely – Thaw frozen chicken in the fridge, not out at room temperature.
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Marinate carefully – Refrigerate chicken while marinating. Don’t reuse marinade.
Following safe food handling and cooking guidelines can help protect you and your loved ones from bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. Be especially careful when cooking chicken, as it’s one of the highest risk raw meats.
Eating raw or undercooked chicken can have serious consequences, even if you just ingest a small amount. Numerous harmful pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter can lead to miserable symptoms and severe illnesses. Monitor yourself carefully for any signs of food poisoning if you accidentally eat raw chicken. With prompt treatment and proper preventive food safety habits, you can avoid complications and recover fully.
What happens if you eat raw chicken, really?
Is it safe to eat raw chicken? In short, no. You might get sick with food poisoning. And unless you’re Emily Charlton from “The Devil Wears Prada,” those two scary words are enough to make your skin crawl.
“Raw chicken—as well as its juices—is often contaminated with campylobacter bacteria and sometimes with salmonella and clostridium perfringens,” says Jennifer L. Bonheur, MD, a gastroenterologist in New York City. There is also a small chance you can get Escherichia coli from raw chicken, “though, typically its more common to get E. coli from undercooked beef and contaminated raw fruits or veggies,” says Samantha Nazareth, MD, a gastroenterologist in New York.
All of these foodborne pathogens can cause diarrhea usually alongside nausea and vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
And, all it may take is one or two bites.
What should you do if you get sick from raw chicken?
First things first, immediately ban whatever establishment or home you previously ate at for ample time—and yes, even if that means avoiding your moms cooking for weeks. (Sorry, mom!).
Going back to the question, no one wants to say it, but you have to deal with the symptoms. There isnt really a magic pill or cure-all.
“If you have diarrhea, nausea, and cramps—the usual signs of food poisoning—start eating bland foods and drink lots of water and electrolyte drinks until your symptoms get better,” Dr. Bonheur says.
Most food poisoning cases will last up to a week. That said, if symptoms dont improve or worsen within a week, and/or you “have bloody diarrhea, develop a high fever (above 102 degrees), and are pregnant or immunocompromised, you should definitely speak to a doctor,” says Dr. Nazareth.
Starting to show signs of dehydration (think: dizziness, dry mouth, low blood pressure, reduced urination)? Err on the safe side and give the doc a call. Some of these worsened symptoms like high fever and bloody stools might mean you have a more aggressive infection. But thats not usually the case.
What Really Happens If You Eat Raw Chicken
FAQ
What if I eat a little bit of raw chicken?
Foodborne Illness: Raw chicken can harbor pathogens that can lead to food poisoning. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. These symptoms can appear within hours or days after consumption.
Will I be okay if I ate slightly pink chicken?
All that matters is the temperature, not color. To lower the risk of foodborne illness, the USDA says that all poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. However, dark meat can be more juicy at temperatures up to 195 degrees.
What happens if you accidentally eat a piece of raw meat?
… to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), undercooked meat can harbour harmful bacteria and parasites that can cause foodborne illnessesSep 12, 2024.
How long after eating raw chicken will you get salmonella?
Salmonella infection is usually caused by eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs or egg products or by drinking unpasteurized milk. The incubation period — the time between exposure and illness — can be 6 hours to 6 days.